*Calls Kano scenario threat to nation’s nascent democracy
By Folorunsho Alagbede, Abuja
Disturbed by the ongoing Emirship crisis in Kano State, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has demanded the repeal of laws that empower governors to dethrone traditional rulers in Nigeria for sanity to prevail.
The demand was made in a statement on Sunday by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The show of power in Kano in the last 48 hours, according to MURIC, are symptomatic of a serious decay and big threat to the nation’s nascent democracy.
The group noted with sadness that traditional rulers are made victims of political intrigues, while the fear of the total collapse of traditional values ‘hangs above our heads’ like the sword of Damocles.
The human rights organization pointed out that It is an open secret that governors act with politics at the back of their minds.
“We strongly condemn the way and manner two governors, past and present, have turned the revered stool of the ancient city of Kano into a tool for ping-pong game and our traditional rulers who should be respected by the governors are now being pushed hither and thither”, it said.
Continuing, MURIC said, “It is not a Kano affair alone. The South West, South East and other parts of the North have witnessed deposition of traditional rulers.
“The position of MURIC has always been that governors should no longer be allowed to dethrone traditional rulers and we have ventilated this campaign on several occasions
“The naked dance in the market place currently going on in Kano has made it more imperative for Nigerians to rise against the excesses of governors.
“It is time we demand from our lawmakers to immunise traditional rulers from disgraceful, untimely, unnecessary and politically motivated dethronements.
“This campaign should be taken up in all the 36 state houses of assembly. The law which empowers governors to depose kings should be repealed”, it said.
It added, “The city of Kano is currently embroiled in crisis as the state governor, Abba Yusuf, deposed five emirs and reinstated Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who was dethroned as emir of Kano on Monday, 9th March 2020.
“A court injunction seeking to stop the reinstatement of Sanusi was sidestepped and the governor ordered the arrest of the emir, Aminu Ado Bayero.
“But in a dramatic twist, security agencies, including the army, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) beefed up security in Aminu Ado Bayero’s palace to disallow his arrest.
“MURIC is shocked by these developments. It is not only embarrassing but confusing and that is to say the least as we struggle to restrain ourselves from going into any explosive outburst.
“Politicians are out to debilitate, destabilize and finally dismantle the traditional system.
The governors have bastardised the traditional system the same way they messed up the local government system all over the country”, it said.
“That will not necessarily make the traditional rulers all powerful. Traditional rulers who misbehave can still be sanctioned by the kingmakers. He can be suspended or dethroned but it will be by his own people. The kingmakers are enough for the king as checks and balances.
“MURIC appeals to all stakeholders in the Kano imbroglio to tread softly. They should desist from making inflammable statements.
“All sides in the saga have gone to the extreme. The deposition of Emir Sanusi in 2020 allegedly for insurbordination was an extreme measure. But ordering the arrest of Emir Ado Bayero after his removal is high-handed particularly without stating his crime. Revenge is a wild dish and the path of moderation is the path of decency. This is a democracy and the days of l’etat c’est moi are far gone.
“While we call on Kano citizens to remain calm, we appeal to the security agencies to avoid confrontation. Kano must not burn.”
