Lamido Sanusi realises ambition as Emir of Kano
His ambition is to be Emir of Kano, a job for which he is ready to forgo his calling as a banker.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, realised his ambition yesterday.
He was named the 57th Emir of Kano at 4.50pm at the Government House, Kano.
Secretary to the State Government Dr. Rabiu Suleiman Birchi made the announcement in the presence of the kingmakers.
Sanusi, 52, succeeds Alhaji Abdullahi Ado Bayero, who died on Friday after 50 years on the throne.
Before his appointment, Sanusi was Dan Maje Kano.
The Kano Emirate has been in existence for about 1,000 years since 999CE.
Sanusi, whose grandfather Mohammed Sanusi reigned between 1954 and 1963, was picked from a list of three princes submitted by the kingmakers.
The others are Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero (first son of the last emir) and Yaleyo Inuwa Abbas – son of the late emir Muhammadu Inuwa Muhammadu, who spent six months on the throne and was succeeded by the late Emir Ado Bayero.
Dr. Birchi said as it is customary, the Emirate Council met and sent three names to the government.
Some governors and Islamic leaders hailed Sanusi’s appointment, describing it as “well deserved”.
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, his Kwara and Ogun counterparts Abdulfatah Ahmed and Ibikunle Amosun said he would bring his experience to bear on the job.
The announcement of Sanusi’s choice was greeted by jubilation and protest.
The protesters, carrying leaves, sticks and some dangerous weapons, chanted songs, as they stormed the Government House. They also stormed the Emir’s palace.
The protest, which started at the Kofar Kudu area, near the Emir’s palace, was contained by the security.
The protesters set tyres on fire and mounted road blocks as.
They threw stones at vehicles, a situation which was brought under control with the quick arrival of a detachment of policemen, Civil Defence personnel and the state Hisbah.
