Kano Assembly Set To Amend Emirate Council Law

Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the process to amend the Kano State Emirate Councils’ Law of 2019.

The motion to that effect was adopted yesterday at the House plenary session.

This was sequel to deliberations on the floor of the House presided over by the speaker, Hon Jibril Falgore.

In a motion of urgent public importance moved by the majority leader, Hon Lawan Hussaini, he urged the Assembly to support it to move the state forward.

The motion was seconded by the member representing Dawakin Kudu, Hon Shu’aibu Rabi’u.

The action of the House has raised concerns in various quarters.

There are speculations that the move was to revert to a single emirate entity before former governor Abdullahi Gaduje, now All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman created five emirates and appointed emirs over them.

Ganduje also removed the emir of the old emirate, Sanusi Muhammadu Sanusi II.

The Kano State Emirate Law was first amended in 2019 during Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration where the Assembly approved the creation of four additional emirate councils – Rano, Karaye, Bichi and Gaya.

The development led to an increase of first-class emirs to five and to the deposition of the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi who was believed to have had misunderstanding with the then governor.

In September 2020, the Assembly passed the Emirate Councils’ Amendment Bill 2020 into law making provisions for the Emir of Kano to serve as the chairman of the Council of Chiefs.

Meanwhile, Governor Abba Yusuf as part of his campaign promises had said he would revisit the issue of the emirate council, likewise the leader of the ruling party in the state, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

However, after coming to power, the present administration restored the portrait of Emir Sanusi at the coronation hall of Government House and there had been several calls by groups for his restoration and the restoration of old emirate system.