Kano Assembly De-thrones Emirs, Abolishes Emirates Established by Ganduje
The Kano State House of Assembly has de-throned the five Emirs and abolished the five Emirates in the state. The decision came after a special session convened by the lawmakers, presided over by the Speaker, RT. Hon. Jibrin Falgore, during which the Kano Emirates Council Law (Repeal Bill) 2024 passed its third reading.
Under the new legislation, all offices established under the repealed law have been nullified, and district heads elevated or appointed under the previous law are directed to revert to their former positions.
The Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment Number 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa, the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency.
This decision marks a dramatic reversal from the policies of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who had created the five new emirates. The law establishing these emirates was initially assented to by Ganduje on December 5, 2019, and underwent subsequent amendments in October 2020 and April 2023.
The law originally established five distinct emirates—Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye—each with its jurisdiction over several local government areas. However, the recent legislative action has effectively dissolved these entities.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, who chaired the council, was deposed on March 9, 2020, leading to amendments in the law. Notably, the law was amended to designate the chairman of the council as the Emir of Kano Emirate.
Crucially, Section 12 of the law provides the governor with the authority to grade the office of an emir as first, second, or third class, subject to the approval of the House of Assembly.
A principal officer of the assembly emphasized the legislative body’s determination to proceed with the amendments, asserting, “no Jupiter can stop the assembly from amending the law.
This decision marks a significant shift in the traditional power dynamics within Kano State and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the governance and administration of the region.
