- We’re ready to accept new district head – Bichi Emirate Council
The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has assured residents of Bichi Local Government Area in Kano State that the Emirate Council will ensure the peaceful conveyance of their District Head, Munir Sanusi Bayero, to assume his duties in Bichi.
Sanusi gave this assurance on Wednesday during a solidarity visit by traditional and religious leaders from Bichi, led by the Chairman of Bichi Local Government, Alhaji Hamza Sule, at the Gidan Rumfa palace in Kano.
The Emir disclosed that a new date would be scheduled for the transfer of the District Head, who was recently turbaned at the palace after an earlier attempt was disrupted.
“I assure you that another day will be fixed and your District Head will surely be brought to you and everything will take place peacefully,” he said.
The pledge followed an incident last week when security personnel allegedly barricaded the palace to prevent the District Head’s planned departure for Bichi.
According to palace sources, the heavy security presence disrupted the scheduled ceremony, leaving the reasons for the intervention unclear.
“What happened was only a distraction, we still don’t know why it happened and those involved have not disclosed the reason why they did it. However, this will not stop anything.
“I assure you that another day will be fixed and your District Head will surely be brought to you and everything will take place peacefully.
“Go back and inform the public to continue to remain peaceful and prayerful. Whatever the situation, peace and prayers will surely take us to the end of the tunnel,” the Emir said.
Earlier, Alhaji Hamza Sule reaffirmed the loyalty of the people of Bichi to the Emirate and the leadership of Muhammad Sanusi II.
“Even on the controversial day that was fixed for your visit to Bichi to escort the new District Head, Munir Sunusi Bayero, we were fully ready to receive you, but we only heard that there was a crisis when we were already celebrating your coming.
“We in Bichi from our Imams, Village Heads, Wards Heads, and everybody, are behind your royalty, and our solidarity is only for you.
“That is why we decided in our numbers to come today and emphasise our loyalty to you and whatever decision you have taken on your domain, Bichi,” he stated.
Earlier on Friday, heavily armed security operatives, including armoured personnel, took over the Kano Emir’s Palace at Kofar Kudu, restricting human and vehicular movement.
Sources within the Kano Emirate disclosed that the Emir was scheduled to turban the newly appointed Wamban Kano, Munir Sanusi, as District Head of Bichi and present him with a staff of office.
However, the Emir was reportedly ordered to remain indoors by the security operatives.
It was also confirmed that the Bichi Emir’s Palace was surrounded by armed policemen.
It was learnt that several traditional rulers and title holders, who had assembled to accompany Emir Sanusi to Bichi for the royal ceremony, were stranded after operatives restricted movement around the palace.
According to reports, many of the traditional leaders abandoned their vehicles and trekked to the central mosque for Friday prayers.
Bichi, one of the four emirates established by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, was dissolved and downgraded to a district under the Kano Emirate by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The governor also reinstated Sanusi, who was earlier replaced by Ado Bayero as the Kano Emir.
In light of the growing tension, the Kano State Government also urged residents to remain calm.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, addressed the issue during a broadcast in Hausa on Freedom Radio.
“We were surprised when we woke up this morning to hear that armed policemen had surrounded the Kano Emir’s palace without any breach of peace or justification for such action,” he said, describing the incident as a calculated attempt to incite unrest in the state.
He disclosed that inquiries to the police command revealed that the action was “on orders from above.”
He alleged that some individuals were conspiring with federal authorities to create a crisis in Kano, an act he said would not be tolerated by the state government.
The SSG dismissed rumours suggesting possible unrest in Bichi if Emir Sanusi attended the event.
He reassured residents of Bichi’s reputation for peace, noting that the newly appointed District Head hails from the area, and his father, the late Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I, also served as District Head there.
“We will wait for the Emir to reschedule the event and will ensure people accompany him to Bichi with the new District Head,” Bichi added.
There are, however, speculations that the police deployment might be connected to the enforcement of a court order.
The ongoing legal tussle over the Kano Emirate throne has resulted in conflicting rulings.
A Federal High Court in Kano issued an interim injunction favouring Aminu Ado-Bayero’s authority, while a Kano State High Court granted an injunction supporting Sanusi.
This legal impasse has created confusion over the rightful exercise of emirate powers, leading the Chief Justice of Nigeria to summon the involved judges for an investigation into the conflicting rulings.
In June, a Federal High Court nullified the Kano Emirate Council (Amendment No. 2) Law, 2024, which had created four additional emirate councils in the state.
This ruling effectively dissolved these councils, adding to the intricacies surrounding the emirship tussle.
