Kano crisis: Clash of egos

…also published in Daily Trust

Though the ongoing dispute between the Kano State Governor Abdullah Umar Ganduje and Sarkin Kano Muhammad Sunusi ll was triggered following governor Ganduje’s allegation that Sarki Sunusi had clandestinely sought to undermine his reelection bid earlier this year, a critical look at how it has played out since then reveals a clash of egos as the underlying dynamic behind its escalation.

Of course, neither Ganduje nor Sunusi ll would admit it for obvious reasons. The former cites historical reasons and development imperatives to justify the creation of additional first-class emirates in the state, while the latter simply rejects it and seeks the restoration of the status quo through mediations and judicial means.

Governor Ganduje had obviously imbibed a personal vendetta against Sarki Sunusi (ll) who he accused of covertly conniving with his political opponents to frustrate his reelection bid, which he apparently regarded as an insult to his ego as the state governor and chief executive officer of the state for that matter.

Soon after his reelection, therefore, he retaliated against Sunusi (ll) by creating four additional first-class emirates in the state thereby effectively reducing Sarki Sunusi to the mere Sarki of Kano metropolis. He was able to achieve this thanks to his virtually absolute control over the Kano State House of Assembly, which, in its haste to formulate relevant laws to that effect, skipped an essential procedural aspect that a court in the state subsequently cited to declare the whole process null and void, as prayed by the Kano Emirate, which had challenged the process of formulating the laws before the court.

Yet, governor Ganduje still initiated a fresh and procedurally perfect process, included more traps against Sarki Sunusi in the redrafted bill, got it passed by the House of Assembly; and assented to it.

The trap-ridden law leaves no doubt about the ultimate aim of governor Ganduje, which is to either arm-twist Sarki Sunusi into resignation knowing that he isn’t likely to recognize the new emirates; or depose him for insubordination if he continues to refuse.

On his part, the equally ego-driven Sarki-Sunusi is apparently obsessed with the prestige associated with being the only first-class Sarki in one of the most prestigious traditional institutions in West Africa. Besides, Sunusi Lamido Sunusi, as he was known until his ascension to the Kano throne, had never been obsessed with anything more than becoming the emir of Kano. Many of his fans who saw in him the competence and professional qualities of the calibre of governor Kano state needs and indeed the calibre of president Nigeria needs expressed their disappointment when he chose to prematurely abandon the constituted environment of public service and politics where he has the potential to rise to any height in the country, just to become a traditional ruler with no power whatsoever to turn his brilliant development ideas into policies.

Now, while it’s obvious in light of this that Sarki Sunusi isn’t likely to resign, it’s equally clear that he can only avert dethronement by coming to terms with the new four emirates; and indeed working with them as co-emirs as demanded by the relevant law. However, his ego wouldn’t allow him to do at least at the moment. After all, all the mediations to reconcile him with the governor appear to have failed, as the efforts to maintain the status quo through judicial means equally failed.  

Though entertaining hopes that the next state governor would get the laws repealed and restore the status quo remains Sarki Sunusi’s only hope, for now, time is never in his favour because, barring any unforeseen circumstances, governor Ganduje will stay in power until 2023; and by then the whole controversy would have been overtaken by events while the four new emirates would have taken root.  Besides, the next governor won’t necessarily be interested in abolishing the emirates after all; he may, in fact, turn out to be interested in creating more emirates.

In the meantime, this controversy has unsurprisingly triggered a free-for-all argument not only among Kanawa but others as well. Individual and group elites from both sides continue to present conflicting versions and interpretations of historical accounts, sociopolitical, economic and legal arguments to justify their respective stands on the issue.

What’s quite clear, however, is that neither party is necessarily motivated by the strategic interests of Kano after all. For instance, many of those against the creation of the new emirates sound actually obsessed with preserving the ego of Sarki Sunusi and the prestige he cherishes as the only first-class Sarki in the state.

Many of them are otherwise reputable public figures who would presumably welcome the creation of another state(s) out of Kano, which necessarily involves creating a new first-class emirate(s) from the state as well. One wonders, how those of them who have always called for the creation of a new state out of Kano would react when the issue begins to receive appropriate attention of the National Assembly.

Equally, many of those in support of governor Ganduje’s creation of the new emirates sound more politically-motivated or simply motivated by other interests. Others also, who lost out in the Sarauta intrigues and politics that led to the emergence of Sunusi (ll) as Sarkin Kano are happy with the development while looking forward to seeing him deposed as well.

Interestingly, the controversy has also retriggered the underlying Birni-Kauye dichotomy in the state where many so-called “yan kauye” view the creation of the new emirates as liberation from the domination of the so-called “yan birni in Sarauta affairs.