One of the recently deposed Emirs in Kano state, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir, who was emir of Gaya has said he holds no grudges against anyone and has accepted his fate as an act of God. Alhaji Abdulkadir was one of the 5 Emirs appointed by former Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje after the dissolution of the Kano Emirate in 2019. The law creating the 5 emirates was however repealed recently and the old order restored, a move which also saw the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the head of the new, unified Kano Emirate.
This development has led to protests and unrest across the state with many calling the decision a needless political intervention in chieftaincy affairs. Others who supported the move, however, accuse the former governor, Ganduje as the one who politicized the stool and praise the current governor, Abba Yusuf, for restoring and preserving Kano’s culture.
Reacting to the news, just days after his dethronement, the former emir of Gaya told reporters, “Nobody will feel happy about this development, but it is Allah that made you [on the throne], and everything has time.
“Allah has predestined that this would happen long before we were born, therefore we do not hold grudge against anybody. It is the will of Allah and we have accepted it wholeheartedly.
“This is how God wanted it, and it must be done that way. We have no intention of going to court. We have accepted it in good fate. We thank Allah.”
The former emir was speaking shortly after a fierce protest broke out in the former emirate, with protesters singing his praises and calling for his immediate reinstatement.
On his part, the former emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado-Bayero is not showing any signs of leaving quietly. Despite the 48-hour ultimatum given to him and the 4 other former emirs to hand over to the deputy governor, Alhaji Ado Bayero defied the order and returned to the Palace. He also spoke saying “I call on the people to remain law-abiding while awaiting outcome of the legal process on this tussle. We call on the authorities to do justice in this matter. Kano is a very influential state in Nigeria. Whatever affects Kano affects Nigeria. May peace reign in Kano. We pray for Allah to bless Kano with responsible and just leaders. Justice is the way to go on every issue. There will be justice. Nobody is above law. We will accept whatever the law says. I appreciate all the people who have shown concern. As I said, justice will take its course. We will keep on praying for peace in Kano State. May Allah the Almighty protect us.”
There is currently an order of the court asking all parties to maintain status quo till the determination of a suit brought by one of the kingmakers but that order is being challenged as critics say the judge who purportedly gave the order is currently on vacation in the United States.
