Twist of fate as Ganduje bows to Sanusi emirship
Kola Oyelere Kano
A notable shift in Kano’s political landscape emerged on Tuesday as former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly acknowledged Muhammad Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano and Chairman of the Kano State Council of Emirs.
The development occurred during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, held at the Government House and attended by senior political figures, traditional leaders, and government officials.
In his goodwill message, Ganduje addressed Sanusi using his full royal title, a gesture that drew immediate attention from attendees.
The audience responded with sustained applause as he formally recognised Sanusi’s position as head of the Kano Emirate Council.
The moment carries significant political weight, given the history between the two men. In 2018, during his tenure as governor, Ganduje removed Sanusi from the throne, a decision that sparked widespread political and legal controversy.
The situation changed following the election of Abba Kabir Yusuf, under whose administration Sanusi was reinstated as Emir. Tuesday’s public acknowledgment is being interpreted as a symbolic turning point in relations among Kano’s political and traditional leadership.
Observers suggest the gesture reflects a possible easing of longstanding tensions and may signal a broader move toward reconciliation within the state’s elite circles.
The development has already been described by some political watchers as an unexpected turn in Kano’s evolving power dynamics.