Tensions rise in Kano as security operatives block Emir Sanusi from presiding over royal event

Tensions soared in Kano on Friday as security forces blocked the palace of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, preventing him from attending a royal ceremony in Bichi Local Government Area.

The Emir was slated to preside over the presentation of a staff of office to a newly appointed District Head in Bichi. However, heavily armed security personnel, including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), surrounded the palace gates, effectively restricting his movement.

Reports from Daily Post revealed that Emir Sanusi II was expected to accompany the newly appointed Wamban Kano, Munir Sanusi, to his official district posting in Bichi.

This development comes amidst growing tensions following Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent reinstatement of Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano. The move reversed his controversial deposition in 2020 by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who had appointed Aminu Ado Bayero as Emir, creating a split within the Emirate.

The reinstatement of Sanusi II has reignited divisions between loyalists of the two Emirs, further straining Kano’s traditional leadership structure. Friday’s blockade underscores the ongoing friction within the state’s Emirate system.

Sanusi’s return has effectively nullified Ganduje’s restructuring of Kano’s traditional institutions, exacerbating the power struggle within the Emirate and deepening political and cultural polarization.