By Uzair Adam Imam
Heavy security was present at the Kano House of Assembly on Wednesday as lawmakers commenced the amendment of the State Emirates Council law that created five Emirates.
The amendment, sponsored by the majority leader and member representing Dala constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, scaled its first reading.
Armed security operatives from the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) took over strategic places at the assembly complex, while journalists who came to cover the day’s proceedings were asked to identify themselves before they were allowed entry.
All roads leading to the assembly complex were barricaded.The Kano state emirates council law, 2019, which created five new Emirates, was first assented to by the 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 of 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.
Section 4 of the law established the state council of chiefs membership, which includes the five emirs, secretary to the state government, commissioner for local governments, and five chairmen, with one each from the Emirates, as well as 10 kingmakers and representatives from the business community and the security agencies, and not more than two appointees by the governor.
Section 5 provides for the chairmanship of the council of chiefs, which shall rotate among the emirs. When Emir Muhammad 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.”
A principal officer of the Assembly, who does not want his name mentioned, said, “We were ready for this a long time ago, and only God can stop this amendment.
“We wanted all these emirs to go 20 days after this administration was inaugurated, but here we are. So, tomorrow (Thursday) there would be a special session of the assembly to consider and pass the amendment.”
However, the minority leader of the assembly, Abdul Labaran Madari, told BBC Hausa, “12 APC members in the assembly were not opposed to the amendment, provided none of the five Emirates would be dissolved, and the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, would not be deposed and replaced with Muhammad Sanusi.”
Madari said, “Though the NNPP lawmakers in the assembly have the numbers to effect the amendment, the opposition members would ventilate their opposition.” He added that the ruling party had perfected its plan to dissolve Bichi Emirate, as well as reinstate the deposed Emir Sanusi.
“The other emirates would be left with three local government areas of jurisdiction each.”