Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje

Ganduje assents to controversial bill reducing Emir Sanusi’s influence

NEWS DIGEST – Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State on Wednesday assented to a controversial bill approving the creation of four additional emirates in the state, effectively reducing the influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.

With the new Emirates, the governor said: “the traditional institution will now go closer to the people in all nooks and crannies of the state. We are about to make history today and in the Holy Month of Ramadhan.”

The newly created emirate councils are Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi.Kano now has five independent emirate councils, including the Kano Emirate Council headed by the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr Sanusi.

Inside sources said that the law was initiated by the governor but presented to the House by proxy.According to the final amended copy of the law, Emir of Kano was allocated Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Dala, Nassarawa, Fagge, Gwale, Kumbotso and Ungogo Local Government Areas.

But Bichi Emirate, which is second in hierarchy, has nine local government areas of Bichi, Bagwai, Tsanyawa, Kunchi, Makoda, Danbatta, Dawakin Tofa, Tofa and Minjibir.The third in hierarchy, Rano Emirate, has 10 local government areas of Rano, Bunkure, Kibiya, Takai, Sumaila, Kura, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Bebeji and Garun Malam.

Gaya Emirate also has under its control 10 local government areas of Gaya, Ajingi, Albasu, Wudil, Garko, Warawa, Gezawa, Gabasawa and Dawakin Kudu.

Like Kano Emirate, Karaye Emirate has eight local government areas under its control.

They are: Karaye, Rogo, Gwarzo, Kabo, Rimin Gado, Madobi, Kiru and Shanono.

According to the Section 4(2) of the amended law, the chairman of the council of traditional rulers shall be rotational.

“Chairman of the Council shall be rotational whom shall serve for a period of 2 Years; sequence of which is to be determined by the Governor,” the law provided.

The new law also confers right on ruling dynasty of Kano Emirate, the Dabo clan, to become emirs in both Kano and Bichi Emirates.

“Nothing in this section shall preclude any District Head of Dabo Clan or the Emir of Bichi also as Dabo Clan from any of the emirates to contest for the Emir of Kano in event of vacancy so long as he is an heir to the throne,” the law prescribed.