NEWS
Kano Emirates Saga: Sanusi Consolidates Power, Yusuf Runs To Ribadu
The royal rumble politics in the Kano Emirates has entered into a new battlefront, with Emir Mohammad Sanusi II consolidating power by making appointments, receiving pledges of loyalty from critical quarters, while the state government is lobbying at federal levels in his favour.
In different moves on Thursday, perceived as helping Emir Sanusi II strengthen his hold on power, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf ran to Abuja to meet with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, while the 16th Emir announced the appointment of Hamisu Sani as the new Ward Head for Kofar Mazugal, Dala Local Government Area of Kano.
Biztellers reports that Gov Yusuf’s meeting with the NSA in the later’s office, lasted over an hour, which is believed to be aimed at intensifying lobbying in favour of Emir Sanusi II.
Recall that following speed-of-light legislative and executive actions, the Kano State House of Assembly repealed the law which created five Emirates in the state, and Gov Yusuf appointed the 16th Emir and deposed the 15th Emir, Ado Bayero.
The action witnessed resistance, though, as legal action led to interim injunction, which saw the deposed Emir return. As that was happending, Gov Yusuf personally took Emir Sanusi II to the palace, while the 15th Emir was returned to the second palace, Nasarawa under the guide of national security forces.
The flying of counter judicial pronouncements, had seen the Chief Justice of the Federation, Olukayode Ariwoola, summon a meeting of key judicial actors in Kano State.
It would appear that battle for the ancient throne of the Kano Emirate has entered new fields, as the Kano State government moved from threatening the NSA, who countered with legal action for which he was apologised to, to lobbying him.
As all that were being acted out, Emir Sanusi II is consolidating his hold on power and urged the new ward head, he appointed, to ensure peaceful coexistence among his subjects in the area and contribute his quota towards the development of the state as a whole.
In a related development, district heads and other prominent personalities, such as delegations from religious and market bodies, have continued to pay homage to Emir Sanusi II, while giving cold shoulders to the deposed 15th Emir.
Some of the delegation who have pledged allegiance to Emir Sanusi II are the Ansarulddeen Tijjanniya sect and traders from both the popular Kantin Kwari textile market and the Singer market in Kano.
Gov Yusuf’s meeting with the NSA was vented to the world by a statement from the spokesperson for the governor, Dawakin Tofa, in which he averred that they discussed state and national issues.
He wrote, “The two political leaders deliberated on various matters relating to state/national development and the peaceful coexistence of the nation during their discussions in Abuja.
“It is significant to mention that the NSA had been accused of involvement in the Kano crisis for allowing a substantial military presence to protect the removed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, a position swiftly discredited by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“Before this, Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, apologised to the NSA for his involvement in the Kano crisis, attributing the error to flawed intelligence.
“Recognising the respected professional background and integrity of the NSA throughout his time as an officer and anti-corruption campaigner, the state deemed it necessary to retract the allegation and offer a sincere apology.”
Tofa added in the statement that the governor’s meeting with the NSA coincided with Sanusi’s six-day stay at the palace in Kano, where a significant majority of district heads and kingmakers already pledged their allegiance and loyalty to the newly consolidated Kano Emirate, under the leadership of the 16th Emir.
The statement pointed out that Kano had been characterised by peace and tranquillity, and thus urged all residents to continue their regular activities in compliance with the rule of law.
“It was a fruitful discussion between myself and the National Security Adviser. His role is critical for the harmonious existence of our nation, so I briefed him on the recent developments in Kano,” Tofa quoted the governor as saying in the statement.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.
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