Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong criticism against the federal government’s deployment of soldiers to Kano, following the controversial deposition of Alhaji Ado Bayero as the emir. Atiku claims this action breaches the Nigerian Constitution.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election argued that the deployment has disrupted the peace and security of the state.
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Atiku highlighted that the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in line with its Constitutional powers. This bill was subsequently signed into law by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“The former emir could not have returned to Kano without the support of the federal government and the involvement of the military, which undermined their integrity,” Atiku asserted.
The statement read: “In performing their constitutional duties of lawmaking, the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA) passed the amended Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024 in consonance with the provision of Section 4 of the Constitution 1999 as Amended, whereas the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf subsequently signed into law the said bill. The law therefore repealed the 2019 version which balkanized the ancient Kano Emirate into five.
“The foregoing circumstances happened within the confines of the law and in compliance with the powers conferred on the Governor as provided by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended; and also in consultation with the Kingmakers of Kano, reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State and accordingly handed him a letter of appointment.
“It is surprising that in the early hours of today, exactly at about 5:30 am, the former Emir of Kano, His Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero, backed by federal might, made his way into the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was at the Gidan Dabo, which is the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
“In this wise, the former Emir could not have made his way into the Nasarawa Palace without the support of the federal government, having done so with the support of the Army and other security personnel in his company. The deployment of soldiers in extra-constitutional matters such as this undermines the integrity of the Nigerian military.”
Atiku emphasized that Kano has a long history of peace and that the federal government’s actions could provoke unrest. He warned that the Tinubu administration would be held accountable if violence erupts.
“We need to remind the Tinubu administration that Kano State is known for peace and harmony spanning thousands of years, and any attempt to destabilize the peace of the Land of Commerce shall be resisted.
“Recall that Muhammadu Sanusi II was dethroned on 9th March 2020, and Kano forged on in peace without any fracas.
“We wish to state unequivocally that if for any reason law and order break down in Kano State, particularly Kano Municipal, the federal government should be held responsible, as the act of providing security cover to the former Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, to come back to Kano is an invitation to anarchy.”
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