Reports have surfaced of a renewed attempt to remove Muhammad Sanusi II from his position as the Emir of Kano. According to sources close to the Kofar Kudu Palace, influential figures in Kano, led by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are orchestrating a plan to oust the former Central Bank Governor from his role as the 16th Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano Council of Chiefs.
Insiders revealed that Ganduje’s primary goal is to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s support for the removal of Emir Sanusi. The plan also includes pressuring Emir Aminu Ado Bayero to step down, under the guise of resolving leadership conflicts in the state.
Ganduje, who has a history of disputes with Emir Sanusi, is reportedly working with a coalition of loyal Kano APC members, including prominent politicians, business leaders, and traders. Their aim is to convince President Tinubu to intervene and allow Ganduje to fulfill his long-standing ambition of dethroning Sanusi.
This is not the first time Ganduje has attempted to remove the Emir. In 2020, he played a key role in Sanusi’s controversial deposition. Now, the plan involves using presidential influence to ensure Sanusi’s permanent removal, while also urging Aminu Ado Bayero to step down, supposedly to restore peace within the Kano Emirate.
While the Kano State Government recognizes Emir Sanusi as the legitimate ruler, other powerful figures aligned with the APC and the presidency continue to acknowledge Aminu Ado Bayero as the Emir.
A source explained that Ganduje and his loyalists are pushing this agenda to gain full control over the Kano Emirate, which has historically resisted his influence. The delegation pushing for the Emir’s removal includes notable business figures and political actors from Kano, all with close ties to Ganduje.
Despite being presented as an effort to resolve leadership tensions, the real objective appears to be Ganduje’s desire to complete his previous efforts to dethrone Emir Sanusi. The use of presidential power to achieve this goal marks a continuation of Ganduje’s long-standing feud with the Emir.