The history of the dethronement of traditional rulers in Kano began during the colonial and post-colonial periods. For selfish reasons, the government has been trying to remove kings who are unable to move to their music.
This is a list of some of Kano State’s dethroned emirs, or traditional rulers.
- Emir of Kano Aliyu Ibn Abdullahi Maje Karofi
After Emir Muhammad Bello passed away in 1894, he was named Emir of Kano. He and his older brother Yusuf then organised a rebellion known as the 3rd Kano Civil War, which began when the Sultan of Sokoto named Tukur as the new Emir of Kano. After a year-long conflict, Aliyu, also known as Ali Balad or the Sango of Zaki for his frequent use of explosives in battle, conquered Kano and assumed the position of Emir in 1894.
After paying respects to the Sultan at Sokoto, he was dethroned in 1903 when British-French forces invaded Kano, ending his rule. He was banished to Yola at first, then to Lokoja, the seat of the new Northern Nigerian government, where he died in 1926.
- Emir of Kano, Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I
Dethroned Emir Sir Muhammad Sanusi I, a distant cousin of Ahmadu Bello, who was reportedly a strong emir of influence during Northern Nigeria’s colonial era, ruled as a traditional Emir Kano from 1954 to April 1963, when he was dethroned due to accusations of financial corruption in the emirate. He passed away in Wudil a few years after being ousted by Azare in 1964. Sanusi I is the grandfather of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the recently removed Emir of Kano, who ruled from 2014 until 2020.
Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I, KBE, held the positions of acting governor of Northern Nigeria from 1957 to 1957 and emir of Kano from 1954 to 1963. He was the oldest son of Emir Abdullahi Bayero. He ruled over colonial northern Nigeria as a powerful emir. A durbar celebration was one of his festivities in 1956, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Kano. He was a reformist who steered the wheel of business development, which has brought Kano commercial success today. Sanusi was a member of Ibrahim Niasse’s reconstructed Tijjaniya order.
- Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II
His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II was among the dethroned emirs of Kano. He was removed from office for displaying “insubordination” towards the Kano state government. Since 2017, Sarki Muhammdu Sanusi, the former governor of the central bank, has had tense relations with the former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Kano. His followers think that because he didn’t support Mr. Ganduje’s reelection in 2019, he was dethroned from his emirship.
Because they are seen as the guardians of both religion and custom, traditional rulers in Nigeria are able to exercise great influence while having few constitutional rights.
According to Ishaq Khalid, the BBC’s Nigeria reporter, Mr. Sanusi was viewed as a reformist and had been critical of several government policies, a position that regularly placed him at odds with ruling leaders.
Security personnel have taken the emir out of the palace in Kano. Although it is unclear where he has been transported, our reporter says that according to tradition, he would be expected to spend his entire life in exile outside of the emirate.
The local government has appointed Aminu Ado Bayero, the son of Mr. Sanusi’s predecessor, as the next emir. Sarki Ado Bayero ruled Kano for more than 50 years until his death in 2014.