There is a fresh plot to dethrone Muhammad Sanusi II as the emir of Kano State, POLITICS NIGERIA has learnt.
According to sources within the Kofar Kudu Palace, powerful individuals in Kano, allegedly led by All Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are orchestrating the removal of the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs.
A well-placed source revealed that Ganduje’s primary objective is to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s backing to oust Emir Sanusi, while also pressuring former Emir Aminu Ado Bayero to step down. This move is disguised as an attempt to resolve the state’s leadership disputes.
Ganduje, who previously clashed with Emir Sanusi, is said to have assembled a loyal coalition of Kano APC members, comprising influential politicians, business moguls, traders, and key stakeholders. Their ultimate goal is to persuade President Tinubu to intervene, allowing Ganduje to complete his long-standing mission to unseat Emir Sanusi.
This development is the latest in a series of attempts by Ganduje to undermine Emir Sanusi, dating back to 2020 when he played a pivotal role in the emir’s contentious deposition.
Ganduje’s strategy now involves leveraging presidential power to ensure Sanusi’s permanent removal and, surprisingly, urging Aminu Ado Bayero to step down as well, purportedly to pave the way for peace.
The Kano State Government has consistently recognized Emir Sanusi as the legitimate Emir, while powerful politicians and businessmen loyal to the APC and presidency have continued to acknowledge Aminu Ado Bayero as the Emir.
The source alleged that “Ganduje, alongside a coalition of Kano APC loyalists, has orchestrated this plan to assert full control over the emirate, a traditional institution that has long resisted his influence.
“The delegation, carefully selected for their loyalty to Ganduje, includes a prominent Kano business mogul, influential politicians, traders, and key stakeholders in the state’s political and business landscape.
“These individuals, all closely aligned with Ganduje, have rallied around his cause, advocating for the removal of both emirs under the guise of settling leadership tensions within the Kano Emirate.
“Their objective is bold and clear: to persuade President Tinubu to intervene, enabling Ganduje to complete his long-standing mission to unseat Emir Sanusi.
“While cloaked in the rhetoric of “restoring peace,” Ganduje’s true agenda is becoming increasingly evident—he seeks to leverage presidential power to oust Emir Sanusi, a figure he has repeatedly clashed with.
“This latest move is a continuation of Ganduje’s efforts to undermine Emir Sanusi, dating back to 2020 when he played a central role in the emir’s controversial deposition.
“Now, Ganduje is intent on using his political influence to finish what he started. His strategy involves seeking President Tinubu’s support to ensure Sanusi’s permanent removal and, in a surprising twist, urging the more compliant Aminu Ado Bayero to step down as well, supposedly to pave the way for peace.”
