By Ahmed Ghani Hassan
Since before the Advent of Caliphate of shehu Usman ibn fodio , there was admistrative and political principle within the traditional institution, but because of the violation of the principles and regilions irregularities caused the fallen of the habes kingdoms in Northern Nigeria and the Sokoto caliphate was established in 1803. Afterwards the caliphate has no more absolute monarch because of the emergences of British colony, but the principle and the admistrative structure of the traditional institution were still Maintained despite the social changes.
There was a trending on social media about the word “Former Emir” which addressed the 14th fulani Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi as “Former Emir of Kano” by the chief of staff to the kaduna state Governor whereby the statement highly provoked the Former Emir as it’s speculated that Governor Nasiru EL Rufa’i who is a bosom friend to the Former Emir, sacked his chief of staff as a result of addressing the dethroned 14th emir of Kano as ” Former Emir”, which in real truth he is a Former Emir not a Serving Emir.
Sanusi Was dethroned by the Kano State Governor last year, but he continues appearing in royal regalia as though he is still a Serving Emir, while he only recognized anywhere in the world as former Emir because he have no even ward head under his domain after dethronement.
Historically, Kano Emirate had been in existence for more than 1000 years, which fulani ruling over 200 years since the emergence of the caliphate, . There were two fulani Emirs in Kano Who were dethroned and deposed, like Emir of Kano Alu and Emir Muhammadu Sanusi in 1963 who deposed to Azare, later to wudil. All those Emirs lived their life simple as not exactly to the appearance of a serving Emir who are always in Royal regalia.
There are some famous Emirs who were dethroned like Emir of Zazzau Alu Dan Sidi from mallawa ruling House who was deposed to same as Sarkin Kano Alu in Lokoja. Emir of Bauchi Yakubu 111 Was dethroned and desposed to Wase And he never dressed or feel like a serving Emir or always in full royal regalia, Akin to Sultan Dasuki who was dethroned and deposed to Kaduna until his Death, he never claimed to be another Sultan because doing that is a violation of the principle of the traditional institution. Therefore I felt bad about the implications as it can creates further disrespect for traditional institution by the former Emir of Kano who is a king without Royal Authority. Being desposed neutralize the political and spiritual authority granted by the Crown. What happened to the Former Emir is called Karma because before his dethronement a lot of commitees and delegations have been send by the Federal Government to settle and resolve the crisis between the Kano State Governor and the Former Emir but the dethroned Emir neglect and disrespectfully ignored the committee and delegations and continued with his move to remove the Governor, which later the Governor dethroned and deposed him to anywhere of his choice. A lesson to all, never feel to big to listen to advises no matter what and accept dialogue whenever it comes because dialogue solve any crisis no matter how difficult it prove to be.
Ahmed Ghani Hassan writes from Bauchi.
ahmedghanihassan@gmail.com
