Editions SSAAR (JHSS); Journal of December, 2020 Humanities and SocialSub Science-Sahara African Academic Research Publications Journal of Humanities and December, 2020 Editions Social Science. Vol.17, No.6, ISSN:2316-7989 LEADERSHIP CRISIS BETWEEN GOVERNOR GANDUJE AND FORMER EMIR OF KANO MUHAMMED SUNUSI LAMIDO II *JIBRIN UBALE YAHAYA, PhD & **MUSA MOHAMMED BELLO, PhD *Department of Political Science, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) **Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Nasarawa State University Keffi Abstract Power is a key to conflict between groups or individuals many scholars in social science and humanities like Prof. Asobia a renown political scientist from University of Nigeria Nsuka is of the view that power scramble can easily break through societal stability as groups or individual seek who seek for power domination and relevance in the public affairs. The former Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II of Kano has been dethroned by Governor Ganduje, the removal brings to many as a past memory of similar removal of his Grandfather, Alhaji Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I, by the Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. History has repeated itself on Monday, March 9, 2020 when Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned the emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Fifty-seven years ago, precisely 1963, the late Grandfather of Emir Sanusi, Alhaji Sir Muhammadu Sanusi, was also dethroned by the Premier of Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, according to the history, the late Sanusi and the premier were reportedly best of friends before things went bad in their relationship. However, in 1963, the friendship had collapsed as Bello's government probed, dethroned and eventually banished the late Sanusi to Azare in 1963 where he later died. Though unlike his grandfather, Emir Sanusi II might not be Governor Ganduje's close friend, the duo certainly did not start off as enemies. However, the crisis erupted between the two started in 2019 when the emir was accused of working against Ganduje's re-election in 2019. Governor Ganduje after winning the second term developed an action that was interpreted as a calculated move to 225 | P a g e Editions SSAAR (JHSS); Journal of December, 2020 Humanities and Social Science undermine the influence of the Kano emir. Apart from creating new emirates, the Kano State Governor also initiated a probe of the Kano Emirate Council under the leadership of Emir Sanusi II after several probes and failed reconciliation attempts, Governor Ganduje announced the removal of Sanusi as the Emir of Kano. Sanusi's dethronement came after the state's council executive meeting presided over by Ganduje. Confirming the development, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, Kano's Secretary to the State Government (SSG) said that the monarch's sack takes effect from Monday, 9th March 2020. Usman said that the emir’s action violated the part 3 section A-E of Kano state emirate law, 2019 and that his removal was a decision reached after a lot of consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Calling on Kano people to calm over the development, information on that particular day has confirm that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, former emir of Bichi to be throne as Emir of Kano while Alhaji Nasiru Ado, Wanban Kano District head of Nasarawa was throne as Emir of Bichi. The paper was of the view that to maintain the reputation of Kano State traditional cultural values and heritage there is need for political elected officer to use political power for the purpose of development for the peoples not for attaining political interest and the traditional leaders must not take side on any controversial political issues rather than guiding political elected officer to deliver on their mandate on serving the needs of their peoples. Keywords: Kano Emirate, Political Crisis, Traditional Leadership and Political Participations. Introduction The former Emir Sanusi II was selected to succeed his granduncle, Alhaji Ado Bayero, as the Emir of Kano on 8 June 2014. His appointment was controversial, with some seen like a politically-motivated move to avoid fraud charges from his tenure at the Central Bank Governor. Many peoples are of the believe that Bayero's elders son Chiroma would succeed his father as emir, which led gang groups of many youth protested against Sanusi's appointment (FM News, 2014) The Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II , was crowned on 9 June 2014, as the 14th Emir of Kano and leader of the 226 | P a g e Editions SSAAR (JHSS); Journal of December, 2020 Humanities and Social Science Tijaniyya Sufi order, the second-most-important Muslim position in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto, leader of the larger Qadiriyya Sufi order. According to comrade Ameh Godwin (2014) has argue that Muhammadu Sanusi II, also known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is one of the most famous hereditary Muslim rulers in the Northern Nigeria during his 5 years leadership as emir of Kano . He is also one of the most embattled. As politicians seek to decimate his authority, his predicament exemplifies broader pressures facing his peers around the world. Expected to simultaneously mediate social change and uphold “tradition,” these hereditary Muslim rulers are supposed to be above the fray of day-to-day politics – but they cannot avoid getting drawn into it. Sunusi has taken the bull at horn since thronging in as emir who has brought many cultural changes in the administration of Kano emirate council which he has encounter resistances from various forces but he become firm and resolute in his vision to introduce cultural change and mobility in Kano cultural structure . Ameh has argue that ‘’ the nature of pressure face by traditional holders in spite for political office holder to achieve a certain political goals that can led to molestation and abuse of power among traditional institutions holders. Since 2014, Sanusi has been the emir of Kano, the most populous state in northern Nigeria; Kano is a religious hub in the region, just as it was in the pre-colonial period. Within the hierarchy of Northern Nigeria’s hereditary Muslim ruling class, the emir of Kano formally ranks third, after the Sultan of Sokoto and the Shehu of Borno. In terms of political sway and media coverage, however, the emir of Kano is sometimes more visible than those other traditional figures in north – and this has been especially true with the outspoken Sanusi in the role to make comments in the area of economy, governance, Girl Child education , Insecurity and many more other public affairs issues. Statement of Problem Sanusi was a controversial public figure long before his arrival as emir; this is what led to his instant suspension as a Central Bank of Nigeria, Governor by the Former President Jonathan administration. Sunusi has character of offering critics on any injustice of leadership since when he was a student 227 | P a g e Editions SSAAR (JHSS); Journal of December, 2020 Humanities and Social Science radical at Ahmadu Bello University in the 1970s, with dual training as a banker and an Islamic intellectual; he put himself into the media spotlight more than any other royal scion in Northern Nigeria. Moreover, his religious worldview perception is markedly eclectic in the Nigerian context or indeed any context: in his writings on Islam and politics from the 2000s, one can find him citing figures ranging from the medieval Maliki jurist Khalil bin Ishaq to the Iranian philosopher-revolutionary ‘Ali Shari‘ati. During the phase of intensive “shari‘a implementation” in northern Nigeria between 2000 and 2003, Sanusi expressed a progressive vision of Islamic law’s orientation and purposes, a vision that was self- consciously out of step with the much more conservative opinions of many scholars and even many ordinary Muslims. Sanusi was also controversial in his role as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009-2014. Sunusi has got many praises abroad and at home for his post-crash reforms of the banking sector in Nigeria during his tenure s CBN Governor; he also drew criticism from multiple sectors. Nigerian Christian Pastors objected to his decision to advance Islamic banking in Nigeria, by establishing free interest banking. Sunusi has the “Occupy Nigeria” movement deplored his involvement in an abortive effort to remove fuel subsidies in 2012, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan fired Sanusi in 2014 after the leak of correspondence where Sanusi questioned Jonathan about an alleged $49 billion missing oil revenues (CBN, 2011) Emir, Sanusi has continued to attract controversy on some many issues in the public affairs policies by trying to demonstrate his philosophical ego perception for socio-cultural and political changes. At a 2018 conference organized by Institute of Islamic Civilization, Bayero University, Kano, he attended where protocol required Sanusi to represent both himself and the Sultan of Sokoto, Sanusi half-joked said that “anything I said that is not controversial comes from the Sultan, but anything I said that is controversial comes from me.” Departing from most of his peers’ practice of confining their public remarks to platitudes, Sanusi weighs in on sensitive questions of economic management while also calling for wide- ranging social change on issues such as girls’ education. Emir Sanusi speaks to multiple audiences simultaneously; seemingly well aware that what 228 | P a g e Editions SSAAR (JHSS); Journal of December, 2020 Humanities and Social Science offends some of his fellow Nigerians may please others while also continuing to attract Western media attention. Emir Sanusi II has reinventing the role of emir, and part of that reinvention involves being a relentless political and cultural commentator. Trumpeters in traditional garb still herald his arrival to public events, and attendants still lift their flowing robes to screen him from public view when he sits down and stands up – but when he speaks it is as a blend of development economist, modernist Islamic intellectual and hereditary aristocrat.