The Kano State House of Assembly has abolished the five Emirates in the state and dethroned the Emirs.
The development followed a special session held by the lawmakers on the floor of the house presided over by the Speaker, RT. Hon. Jibrin Falgore, News About Nigeria reports.
The Assembly passed the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 after scaling the third reading. The new bill sets aside all offices established under the repealed law, and all district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law are to revert to their previous positions.
The Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment Number 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa.
The law, which created five new emirates, was first assented to by ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019.
The governor assented to an amendment to the law on October 14, 2020, and signed another amendment on April 11, 2023. Section 3(1) of the law established five distinct emirates: Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye, with Kano and Karaye having eight local government areas of jurisdiction each, while Bichi and Gaya emirates share nine local government areas of jurisdiction each, and Rano Emirate enjoys jurisdiction over 10 local government areas out of the 44 local councils in the state.
When Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, was deposed on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to read: “There shall be the chairman of the council who shall be the Emir, Kano Emirate.” Section 12 provides that the governor may grade the office of an Emir as first, second, or third class, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.
The recent amendment aims to make changes to the membership and chairmanship of the State Council of Chiefs.
Section 4 of the law outlines the membership of the council, including the five emirs, while Section 5 stipulates that the chairmanship will rotate among the emirs.
However, the minority leader of the Assembly, Abdul Labaran Madari, expressed opposition to the amendment, stating that 12 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House are not opposed to the amendment, provided none of the five emirates are dissolved and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, is not deposed and replaced with Muhammad Sanusi.
Madari alleged that the ruling party plans to dissolve the Bichi emirate and reinstate the deposed Emir Sanusi.
