Former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Tuesday responded to comments by his successor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as to why he dethroned Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano.
Ganduje had recently said that Sanusi was not the most qualified candidate for the Kano throne in 2014 but he was still appointed so as to spite then President Goodluck Jonathan who had just removed Sanusi as Central Bank of Nigeria governor.
However, Kwankwaso, in a statement shared to newsmen by hisbPrincipal Private Secretary Muhammad Inuwa Ali, said they know the real reasons Ganduje removed Sanusi.
“We know that Governor Ganduje always feels diminished and inferior in the presence of the Emir, and we know that Governor Ganduje harbours a pathological hatred for the Kano traditional institution
“And we know that Governor Ganduje was madly obsessed with reversing everything that Sen. Kwankwaso did in the state,’’ the statement said.
“Everyone knows that Governor Ganduje’s desperation to obtain a $1.8 billion loan from China to construct light rail and the former Emir’s criticism of the loan is what fueled the illegal removal of Emir Sanusi II; it had nothing to do with former President Jonathan.
‘’It is common knowledge that the Emir was too progressive for Governor Ganduje’s liking and that was exactly why after his illegal removal and the dismemberment of the Kano Emirate Council, he appointed Emirs that will not question his ill-advised decisions even if they are against the interest of the state and its people,’’ the statement added.
Kwankwaso recalled how Ganduje, then his deputy, on Friday 13th June 2014 said on a live program on Channels Television and Freedom Radio:
“Sanusi was the best among the candidates to be appointed as Emir of Kano. His wealth of experience as one of the best economist in the world and his trustworthiness is always his weapon. Remember how he exposed how billion dollars were stolen by some person under President Jonathan administration
“I congratulate HE Rabiu Kwankwaso for choosing the right person at a time Kano and Nigeria need people like Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at this position.”
The statement said ’The appointment and coronation of Emir of Kano is a consultative process that is guided by law and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso as the then Governor of Kano state knows the type of people to consult when it comes to such critical issues that border on life-long appointments like the successor of the late revered Emir Ado Bayero.
“Sen Kwankwaso was looking for a progressive emir that will succeed the late emir and certainly everyone that knows Gov. Ganduje will attest that he is not progressive and hence that was why Sen. Kwankwaso deliberately refused to consult him on the choice of Muhammad Sunusi II as new Emir.”
Dateline Nigeria reports that Kwankwaso and Ganduje were long time political associates before they parted ways.
