President Muhammadu Buhari has finally resolved to intervene in the raging crisis between the Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The president’s intervention comes a day to the expiration of a query issued to the emir by the state government, seeking answer on alleged misappropriation of the emirate’s finances.
There have been calls for the intervention of the president and Northern elders as the estrangement between the governor and the emir raises tension in the state.
Credible sources in the Presidency told DAILY NIGERIAN that the president was unhappy with the development in the state due to widespread condemnation and concerns over imminent security breach.
“You know the president hardly interferes in matters of states. But on this issue, the president had to just interfere,” the source said.
“The president is not happy with the governor for taking the unpopular decision of balkanizing the emirate and making moves to dethrone the emir.
“The president therefore summoned Ganduje on Thursday and directed the Director-General of the DSS to call for emergency meeting with governors of the North West.
“The governors are led by the governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who first met and briefed the president on the matter on Thursday.”
DAILY NIGERIAN also reliably learnt that the emir was also summoned to the emergency meeting along the Madakin Kano, Yusuf Nabahani, on Friday.
Recall that the emir on Wednesday cancelled Hawan Nassarawa durbar in deference to the directive of the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, seeking cancellation of the traditional event.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state governor ordered the cancellation of the durbar, citing security reasons.
In a statement by the acting secretary of the Kano Emirate Council on Wednesday night, the emir accepted the governor’s order, and appealed for calm.
In view of the cancellation of all the durbars, the emirate therefore set aside June 7 for a prayer session to mark the 5th year remembrance of the late emir, Ado Bayero, and 5th year anniversary of the present emir.
The governor and the emir have been at dagger drawn, following the emir’s alleged support for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Abba Yusuf, in the last general election.
In order to whittle down the emir’s influence, the governor created four rival emirates in Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye and appointed emirs in each emirate.
