The Immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has emerged the new Emir of Kano, succeeding late Ado Bayero.
Governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, had promised to unveil the new Emir on Sunday when the Kano Kingmakers of the Kano Emirate Council paid him a condolence visit on Saturday.
The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, formally announced Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir on Sunday, June 08, 2014, following his recommendation by the kingmakers and approval by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Bichi disclosed that the government chose Mr. Sanusi’s out of three candidates forwarded to him by Kano Kingmakers.
“Under state customary law, the kingmakers comprising the Madaki, Sarkin Bai, Makaman and Sarkin Dawaki Maituta had sat down and forwarded three names to the government to choose the one that will succeed the Late Emir Ado Abdullahi Bayero.
“Out of these three names the government has approved Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Dan Majen Kano, and former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, as the new emir of Kano,” the SSG said.
Although there were no clear indications earlier on whether the first son of the late Emir, Sunusi Ado Bayero, would be picked as the new Emir, the erstwhile CBN boss had a well-advertised ambition to become the future emir of his native Kano, after he bagged a top chieftaincy title (Dan Maje Kano), a historic title reserved for the royal family members from the Kano Habe dynasty, which means Son of Emir-Maje.
Lamido Sanusi has thus become the 14th Emir of Kano from the Fulani dynasty and 57th ruler of Kano Emirate from the late Abdullahi Bayero House.
Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (born 31 July 1961) was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 3 June 2009 and suspended from office by President Goodluck Jonathan on 20 February 2014.
Meanwhile, there have been pockets of protest by supporters of Sanusi Ado Bayero, the first son of the late Emir of Kano, challenging the sudden emergence of Lamido Sanusi.
A source revealed to Blank NEWS Online that: “Earlier in the day, message came to the Prince while he was at the palace receiving condolences that he needed to go and get set for turbanning in case he was the one selected, so, many of his supporters followed him to his private residence and most of them assumed that he must have been selected since he was getting set for turbanning,” our source said.
“Unknown to many, both nominees were required to be ready whether they will eventually be selected or not, but many misconstrued the order and were shocked when Sanusi Lamido was eventually announced and they are the ones protesting now.”