President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the people of Kano State for keeping calm in the wake of dethronement of emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II on Monday.
A statement on Wednesday by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, stated that while reacting to allegations that the president had a hand in the removal of the emir.
The president, therefore, prayed for the continuous progress of the state, “irrespective of who is on the throne”.
The statement read in part: “President Muhammadu Buhari has no involvement whatsoever in the dethronement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II from the position of Emir of Kano. All such insinuations are untrue, malicious and politically motivated.
“The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.
“As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President.
“Although a retired General and former Military Head of State, President Buhari clearly understands that under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation. They all have their powers specified under the Constitution.”
