NEWS
JUST IN: Sanusi’s Triumphant Return To Kano, Greeted With Massive Protests In Abuja
As widely speculated, Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Friday presented Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi with a letter appointing him as the Emir of Kano.
However, as the event was happening in Kano, protesters stormed the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly Abuja, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing crisis over Kano Emirate.
Biztellers reports that following legislative actions, by the Kano State House of Assembly, including a repeal of an existing law and a resolution, Sanusi moved into Abuja on Thursday with royal paraphernalia.
All that was preceded with an executive endorsement of all the legislative actions which culminated in the presentation of the appointment letter on Friday.
Gov had given the five Emirs who became automatically deposed by the action of the government of Kano State a 48-hour ultimatum to hand over the State’s Commissioner of Local Government Affairs.
However, a Federal High Court, sitting in Kano had ordered that the process be put on hold pending the determination of a fundamental human rights action filed by Alh Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba of the Kano Emirate.
Justice Mohammed Liman who issued the order also slated 3rd of June, 2024 for the hearing of the matter.
But it appears that the political actors in Kano State are either not in the know, not been served or would have none of that as they have gone with presenting Sanusi with a letter of appointment, reinstating him as the Emir of Kano.
Gov Yusuf said, “By the powers conferred on me by the Kano Emirate Council Law of 1984 and 2024, and supported by the recommendation of the kingmakers, I have the singular pleasure to confirm the reappointment of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and the head of the Kano Emirate Council.”
Sanusi’s reinstatement took place at the Government House in Kano, four years after he was deposed by the immediate past governor of the state Abdullahi Ganduje.
At the event, the governor reechoed the Emir’s role and urged him to lead according to Islamic tenets of Islam.
“As the Emir is being appointed for the second time, it is based on his competence, credibility, and popularity,” he said.
“I urge him to be guided by the principles of Islamic teachings and to use his position to unite the emirate, fostering harmony among the Islamic sects in the state.”
Traditional rulers, kingmakers, and other top dignitaries were in attendance at the event which came barely one day after Governor Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 into law.
The new law replaces the Kano State Emirates Council Law, 2019, and dissolves the emirate councils created by Ganduje.
That law was used by Ganduje to split the Kano Emirate into five in December 2019 and deposed Sanusi II, on March 9, 2020.
The emirates created by the Ganduje administration were Karaye, Bichi, Rano, and Gaya, in addition to Kano.
Emir Sanusi II, had ascended the throne during the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration after being ousted from office as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Protesters Storm Abuja
While Kano was busy enthroning Emir Sanusi II for the second time, massive protests erupted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja against his return to office.
The peaceful protesters marched with banners to register disagreement with and express concerns about the situation in Kano.
According to the protesters, it would require the intervention of President Bola Tinubu to resolve the crisis and ensure the restoration of peace and stability in the state.
Biztellers reports that Gov Yusuf’s swift action against the five Emirates Council and reinstatement of Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano has the backing of the state’s legislature.
The Kano State House of Assembly had presented him with the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 Bill on Thursday, which the governor signed into law.
The protesters came out under the auspices of the Concerned Patriots of Nigeria, accusing Gov Yusuf taking abuse of office to another level by dissolving the traditional council.
Coordinator, Concerned Patriots of Nigeria, Abdullahi Muhammed Saleh, said, “A lot had been going wrong in the state but the Concerned Patriots of Nigeria had thought it best to allow Kano State to sort out its thorny issues.
“However, Thursday’s brash actions of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, who sacked five emirs to reappoint Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano has awoken us to the urgency of raising the alarm about the destructive excesses of the state governor.
“Since being sworn into office, Governor Abba Yusuf has a string of loutish acts that run like a hardened criminal’s rap sheet. All in the name of rubbishing his predecessor, he started with a demolition spree that has served to impoverish the people whose lives he took an oath to improve. Thus he proved himself to be anti-people.
“The Governor then attempted to destroy the structures of political parties in the state. The impish fanaticism with which he pursued this illicit mission saw him intruding into the structure of other political parties, including hiring some charlatans who purportedly suspended the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, who is interestingly his predecessor. Thus, he proved himself to be anti-democratic.
“This latest stunt of sacking five emirs to install his acolyte was achieved by manipulating the Kano State House of Assembly, which he had successfully turned into a rubber stamp for endorsing his illegal acts.
“He has eroded the autonomy guaranteed by the separation of powers as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“It is inconceivable that any right-thinking person will descend low to the point of manipulating the traditional institution for political gimmicks. The humiliation meted out to the five emirs was most unbecoming and we have cause to believe that Abba Yusuf has set the stage for using the traditional institution as ancient and as esteemed as that of Kano for a political seesaw will continue since his successor will revert to the five emirates. The Kano governor has thus proven himself to be the anti-traditional institution leader.”
The apparently worried protesters added, “The Governor’s choice of actions flies in the face of reason and has no place in a sane and civilised society. We urge Governor Yusuf to retrace his steps and stop further undermining the peace of Kano state and by implication the peace in Nigeria.
“We also condemn the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – dominated Kano State House of Assembly that they have cemented their place as a conclave of shame to have reverted into a mere rubber stamp for the megalomanic tantrums of the state governor.
“They, alongside Governor Yusuf, have taken their desperation to an extent that could set the ancient city on fire and cause breaches in the land. We are here today to appeal to President Tinubu to intervene in the Kano Emirate crisis.
“The situation would deteriorate by the day, and we need the President’s urgent attention to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“We believe that President Tinubu’s intervention is crucial at this critical moment. We are counting on his leadership to find a lasting solution to the crisis and ensure peace returns to Kano State.”
The clamour for the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is gathering momentum.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has added his voice to those urging the Federal Government to comply with judicial pronouncements and release Kanu.
This was gleaned from a one-minute-twenty-three second video posted on micro-blogging site by @BiafranTweets, which appeared to be a clip from an interview granted by the former governor of Anambra State.
The tweet was captioned, ‘#FreeNnamdiKanu as Ordered by Our Court, We should for once practice Rules of Law ~ Mr Peter Obi tell Tinubu Government’.
In the video clip, a journalist, who held out his recorder to Obi alluded to the continued unrest in the South-East, and noted that some people were attributing it to Kanu’s continuous incarceration.
The journalist noted that people like Ohaneze and other well-meaning individuals had ‘called for the release of that young man’ (Kanu) and asked ‘what’s your take on this?’
Obi responded, “My take is very simple. I don’t see any reason for his continued detention, especially, as the law, the court has granted him bail. The government must obey the law.
“Rule of law is intrinsic concept that we must cherish and live with. And I’ve said that I’m going to discuss with every agitator.
“And I use this same opportunity to plead with the government to ensure that all those who are in similar conditions are released and discussed with.
“We are in a democratic government; we shouldn’t be doing things that are arbitrary and not within the law.”
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has opened up on the plans of his administration for the agricultural sector, assuring stakeholders that farm inputs, including tractorization and food security are being addressed by his government.
He made the assertion on Friday evening after a meeting with a Nordic, a firm interested in setting up a tractor assembly plant in Osun State.
Gov Adeleke maintained that his plans for the agricultural sector remained robust and all inclusive.
In his words, “the state is now set for implementation of various programmes in the sector.
“We take Agriculture very seriously. Our government decided to first focus on bridging the infra deficit to strengthen connectivity between rural and urban areas. We first focused on building the roads and bridges as a condition to empower the agricultural sector in the area of transportation and market linkages.
“Now that we have made enormous progress in the infra sector, we are now set to roll out specific programmes for the agricultural sector. I have set up an implementation committee on the recommendations of our food security committee.
“The Committee which is to be chaired by my Special Adviser on Agriculture, Hon Olaniran Akanfe has the mandate to put into effect the suggestions and proposals in the food committee report. Other members of the committee include Olusola Omole, Dr Alaba Towoju, Dr Olu Olajide, Hon Moshood Yakub, Hon Alexander Kehinde Oloke, Adelowo Adekunle Saburi, Kolade Tunde (TISKO) and Engr Badmus Bukola Mikail. The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture is to serve as the Secretary of the Committee while the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Tola Faseru serves as overall Coordinator.
“As we kick-start the implementation of the food security committee, our government is to launch the Osun Young Agropreneurs Incubation Programme which is to target thousands of young farmers and agropreneurs across the agricultural value chain.
“The programme will include at least 1000 hectares of land per local government; provision of land clearing and tractorization; availability of inputs; guaranteed off-taking; all season irrigation farming; integration of hydroponic farming; integration of precision farming and emphasis on gender balancing and inclusivity.
“My Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Faseru is to chair the action committee which will have representatives from ALGON, traditional institutions among others. Other members of the action committee will include Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Land; Surveyor General of the state; Director Agriculture services at the Ministry of Agriculture; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth; President, Osun Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr Adegoke Taiwo Kamal; a representative of farm equipment leasers and Hon Hezekiah Olabamiji Oladele (HOB).
“I have also directed the Commissioner to host a meeting with real farmers on our various farmlands in the state. The Commissioner is to meet genuine farmers to strengthen our partnership as we launch various programmes within the sector.
“I am happy to announce that the federal-state partnership on Fertilizers has yielded positive results. We will as quickly as possible commence the distribution of Fertilizers to our farmers.
“On tractorization, this is another piece of good news. The state has acquired some tractors while the Commissioner has been directed to negotiate a leasing deal with the tractor hiring association. We are also repairing existing tractors.
“Our government is therefore elated to recieve your company with such interest as setting up a tractor assembly plant. We warmly welcome your initiative. The Commissioner for Agriculture is to meet and discuss further with your representative.
“For those into plantation farming, we are raising seedlings across the crop sectors. We are starting with cashew and cocoa.
“More importantly, our government is working on reviving the cocoa industry as well as supporting agro processing through public private partnership. We welcome investors and partners in this critical sector.”
President Joe Biden emphasized his capacity to deliver results while acknowledging challenges with his mobility and speech during a campaign rally in North Carolina.
His remarks followed a heated debate against former President Donald Trump in Georgia, marking a significant moment in the 2024 election cycle.
At the campaign rally in North Carolina on Friday, President Biden addressed supporters stating “Folks, I don’t walk as easy as I used to, I don’t speak as smoothly as I used to. I don’t debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth, I know right from wrong.”
To downplay suggestions of being replaced in the presidential race, Democrat Joe Biden emphasized resilience, stating, “I know, as millions of Americans know, when you get knocked down you get back up.”
He also asserted his commitment to safeguarding democracy, declaring, “I won’t allow Trump to attack our democracy again, I don’t think so folks.”
Reflecting on progress made since his predecessor’s tenure, Biden remarked, “The US has come a long way from the mess that Donald Trump left,” highlighting the past “constitutional crisis and international embarrassment” caused by the former president.
Biden reaffirmed his belief that America embodies “honesty and decency” and serves as a “beacon of the world,” contrasting this with Donald Trump’s motives of “revenge and retribution,” which he criticized as never having “built a damn thing.”
Reflecting on the recent debate, President Biden remarked, “I don’t know what you did last night, but I spent 90 minutes on a stage debating with a guy who has the morals of an alley cat.”
He also commented on Trump’s performance, alleging, “Did you see Trump last night? My guess is he set, and I mean this sincerely, a new record for the most lies told in a single debate.”
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