By Centus Nweze
The last may not have been heard on the recent explanation given by Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano’s governor on why he sacked Mohammad Sanusi II as emir of Kano. Kwankwaso Former Governor of the state, has a different view about the whole saga.
Kwankwaso alleged that his successor, Gov Ganduje dethroned the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusi II over opposition to a $1.8billion railway project in the state.
The ex-governor was reacting to comments credited to Ganduje at the book launch of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, recently. The former governor maintained that the dethronement of the Emir of Kano was illegal, just as it was an expression of the averse nature of Gov Ganduje to everything that Emir Sanusi II represents, knowledge, wisdom, experience, progressive ideals, and the love for the common man.
As recalled, Gov Ganduje took to the podium at the Jonathan’s book launch, chronicling his eventful and successful public career as deputy governor, governor, vice president and President to cast aspersions on the personality of the former Emir.
But Kwankwaso while reacting through his Principal Private Secretary, Muhammad Inuwa, in Abuja, through a statement, wondered why Ganduje while as Deputy Governor, lauded the selection process of Sanusi on a national television, only for him to go back and dethrone him over political sentiments.
“In fact, one of the glowing tributes paid to the selection and appointment of Emir Sanusi II was made by the then Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr Ganduje who on Friday 13th June, 2014 had this to say on a live program on Channels Television and Freedom Radio:
“Sanusi was the best among the candidates to be appointed as Emir of Kano. His wealth of experience as one of the best economist in the world, and his trustworthiness is always his weapon. Remember how he exposed how billion dollars were stolen by some person under President Jonathan administration
“I congratulate HE Rabiu Kwankwaso for choosing the right person at a time Kano and Nigeria need people like Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at this position, “the ex-governor stated.
In a further remark, he said,” It is therefore beyond hypocrisy for Gov. Ganduje to stand on a podium and publicly contradicts himself because of sheer opportunism and malice. Listening to his lies was akin to listening to the braying of a donkey – it irritates you, but you pity the donkey. But we are not surprise.
Because we know that Gov. Ganduje is averse to everything that Emir Sanusi II represents (knowledge, wisdom, experience, progressive ideals, and the love for the common man), and we know that Gov. Ganduje always feels diminished and inferior in the presence of the Emir, and we know that Gov Ganduje harbours a pathological hatred for the Kano Traditional Institution, and we know that Gov. Ganduje was madly obsessed with reversing everything that Sen. Kwankwaso did in the state. And we are aware, for these reasons, Gov. Ganduje was set, ab initio, to destroy the Kano Emirate. And Emir Sanusi II was marked to be the first victim.
“Let me also put it on record that Emir Sanusi II was abducted and illegally dethroned by Gov. Ganduje and his cohorts because of the Emir’s progressive ideas on various issues that affect the people of the State. For instance, during the Kaduna State Economic Summit the Emir expressed his professional and unbiased opinion on the plan of Ganduje to collect $1.8 billion loan from China as follows:
“We have governors; they go to China and spend one month on a tour and what do they come back with, MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on debts.”
“China will lend you $1.8billion to build light rail. This light rail will be done by the rail workers from China. The trains will come from China. The engines will come from China. The labour comes from China. The driver is Chinese.
“At the end of the day, what do you benefit from it? Your citizen will ride on a train and when you ride on a train, in northern Nigeria, in a state like Kano, where are you going to? You are not going to an industrial estate to work.
“You are not going to school? You are not going to the farm. You borrow money from China to invest in trains so that your citizens can ride on them and go for weddings and naming ceremonies.”
“Everyone knows that Gov. Ganduje’s desperation to obtain the $1.8 billion loan and the former Emir’s criticism of the loan is what fuelled the illegal removal of Emir Sanusi II; it had nothing to do with former President Jonathan. It is common knowledge that the Emir was too progressive for Gov.Ganduje’s liking and that was exactly why after his illegal removal and the dismemberment of the Kano Emirate Council, he appointed Emirs that will not question his ill-advised decisions even if they are against the interest of the state and its people.
“Little wonder therefore that the new emirs are keeping sealed lips while the governor who also doubles as the commissioner for land and survey is butchering all public properties and grabbing every piece of land for himself and his family.
“It is inconceivable how any right-thinking person will even contemplate destroying and selling places of cultural heritage, mosques premises, cemeteries, school premises, and many such other public places”.
