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Recall that following speed-of-light legislative and executive actions, the Kano State House of Assembly repealed the law which created five Emirates in the state, and Gov Yusuf appointed the 16th Emir and deposed the 15th Emir, Ado Bayero.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.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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