The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has signed the bill that repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019 that gave the state five emirate councils.
A bill calling for the removal of all five emirs and the dissolution of the four extra emirates established by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration was approved by the state House of Assembly on Thursday.
On Thursday, the day after the state legislature passed the bill with a unanimous vote, the governor signed it at the Government House.
After lunch at the Government House with a few Kano kingmakers and lawmakers led by the speaker, Jibrin Falgore, Mr. Yusuf signed the legislation.
The government’s spokesperson, Halilu Dantiye, or his deputy, Sanusi Bature, are expected to brief reporters on the development soon.
Paradoxically, on Thursday, December 5, 2019, Mr. Ganduje also signed the legislation establishing the four emirates; on the same day, Mr. Yusuf gave his assent to the bill eliminating the emirates.
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First-class emirs in Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi were eliminated along with the five emirates system by the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment No.2) Law, 2024.
With the exception of Sokoto, where the Sultan is the only emir who is supremely powerful over all other emirs in the caliphate, this has returned the state to being the only one with a single emirate council.
Earlier in the day, during a House session chaired by Speaker Mr. Falgore, the state House of Assembly approved and passed the legislation after it was given a third reading and considered by the committee of the whole.
The dissolution of the five emirates has caused controversy in the state; opponents of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP), are in favor of the move, while members of the APC are opposed.
Many thought the move was meant to bring back the ousted Emir Lamido Sanusi.
On March 9, 2020, the state government deposed Mr. Sanusi due to his insubordination; Aminu Ado-Bayero, who had been moved from the Bichi emirate to Kano, took his place.
Mr. Sanusi could be chosen as the next emir by the kingmakers, who were spotted at the Government House on Thursday.
