HISTORY’S UNCANNY WAY OF REPEAT

 

History has an uncanny way of repeating itself, though not necessarily unfolding exactly, but exhibiting the characters of players and that of the times. What is happening in Kano between Ganduje and Sunusi II, was almost a carbon copy of what transpired between the late Sardauna and Emir Sanusi I.

When Sardauna was the Premier of the Northern Region and Sunusi I the Emir of Kano, the dispute between them eventually led to the voluntary resignation of the Emir. Sunusi I, like his grandson, was truly blessed in all ramifications for having an impeccable pedigree, among the first “Yan Boko” from the North, very intelligent, affluent and religious and above all inheriting the throne of his father. To cap it all, The Sardauna respects no one more than the Emir and he was the only emir appointed a Minister. He was also lucky enough to inherit the wealthiest Native Authority, as his father, Abdullahi Bayero, had built Kano to become the economic power house of the country and encourages western education that saw an unprecedented achievement. Instead of building on what he inherited, that is promoting education and the economy, he concentrated on religious activities to the extent that he invited Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass and they embarked on a ten year spree of traveling to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage with their troops, expending God knows how much from the coppers of the state. His focus on religious matters instead of economy and western education was the seed that crippled the accelerated development he inherited from his father.

The straining of relationship with the Sardauna became visible when he was the acting Governor of the Northern region in early 1961. The Emir’s body language and actions, started sending signals to the Premier that the emir is becoming insubordinate as he violated the ban on the use of siren in Kaduna, which only allowed the Premier and the Governor. It was also reported that he arrived late in meetings until when the Sardauna is seated, which is a break of protocol, and sycophants seizing the opportunity in instigating the Sardauna as an affront to his power. In 1962, the Northern Regional Government introduces the appointment of commissioners to province, which Sunusi sees as an effort to curb his power and growing influence. The area of religious activity helps in compounding matters as the emir committed his all in the promotion of the Reformed Tijjaniya movement and on the other hand, the Sardauna believing as Dan fodio’s descendant he has a role in reforming religious activities in the whole region. His outlook was to influence and reshape thinking towards the reformation of the traditional Tariqas thus created the Usmaniyya (a sect following the footsteps of Dan Fodio) with a view of bringing all muslims under one banner with a bit of liberalism. The council of Ulema’s was created and also Jama’atu Nasril Islam, which was to bring together everyone. One of the first activities of the Usmaniyya was the creation of an award, modeled after the British OBE and MBE, which the then Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, was the first recipient.

Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass first visited Kano in 1951, on his way to pilgrimage when Abdullahi Bayero was the Emir. The relationship between Abdullahi Bayero and Inyass was personal not public, that of a teacher and student. But Sunusi I in his time made the relationship public with fanfare as they went to mecca every time together with their troops. People suspected that the emir used public funds to finance the trips. Nyass further fueled the controversy of Kablu and Sadlu, when he prayed in public in Kano with his hands crossed on his chest. The crises between the proponents of Kablu (Tijjaniya) and its opponents took a violent dimension even resulting to the loss of life especially with the Argungu riots. Sardauna charged a committee of the Council of Ulema’s, comprising of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, Sheikh Abubakar El-Nafaty, Sheikh Tijjani Usman and Hussaini Adamu as secretary to investigate and advise on the matter. Eventually the majority of the 46 members of the council of ulema voted against allowing Imams to pray with hands crossed. Naturally the news wasn’t received well in Kano and it created tension and apprehension. The issue was never officially resolved up to the death of Sardauna.

Politically, Sunusi I was very active considering he was a member of Northern House of Representatives and among the leaders in NPC, the ruling party. He had much influence on who are elected as members of both the Northern House of representative and that of Federal parliament. It is an open secret that Emirs were used by the NPC to subjugate opposition.

Things came to a head between Sardauna and Sunusi when the former constituted the Muffet committee to investigate finances of Kano N.A. and charged to report to the northern minister of local government, Sule Gaya, whom according to some sources has some stones to grind with the emir. The committee invited the emir to appear before it, which he did on 13^th of December to defend himself against the allegations. Muffet was on record to have asked the emir 25 questions in front of Madakin Kano and Sarkin Shanu. The committee also invited district head of Rano that was also accused of embezzling 1868 pounds.

Eventually, the investigation by the committee led to the resignation of the emir and the N.A was overhauled. After the deposition of the emir, the leader of the reformed Tijjaniya, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass refused to enter Nigeria (and never did until whe Sardauna was killed) and a political party was formed in Kano, The Kano Peoples Party (KPP) which was largely supported by the Tijjaniya movement and its emblem was the rosary. The KPP became dedicated to the reinstatement of Sunusi. Their abusive approach on the Sardauna forced the government to arrest most of its leaders and the KPP remained underground until when it merged with the opposition party (NEPU).

This brings us back to the present situation. Emir Sunusi II had enjoyed all the blessing and even surpassed some of his grandfather’s. Even though he ascends the throne in a difficult situation due to the Federal Government opposition, but instead of him to galvanize the people in the state, especially the elites, in chartering a new direction for Kanawa, considering his wealth of knowledge and experience, he chose to go solo and grandstand. On his coronation, as we watch the event with some friends, some were saying that at last Sunusi will be gagged by virtue of the position. I beg to differ and we had a heated argument which I appealed to them to calm down and just watch. The first of his controversy was when Kwankwaso banned street begging and charged Hisbah to route them off the street and the emir was feeding them in the palace and bluntly defy the order saying no one can tell them how to use their wealth. Had Kwankwaso got much time left, I bet things would have deteriorated between them.

With Ganduje, it began during the economic summit in Kaduna when the Emir castigated the state government plan to build the metropolitan railway that would gulp $1.2 billion Dollars. Even though it saved the tax payers the corruption that would have followed for a project that isn’t a priority, it certainly irked the governor. At that time Ganduje tried to use the anti-corruption arm of the government to impeach the emir, if not for Dangote’s and some powerful northerner’s intervention. The last straw was during the 2019 elections, the emir was openly campaigning for the opposition and when the incumbent, by hook and crook, reclaimed the mandate, vowed to deal with the emir for good. 

Once again, Aliko Dangote tried to intervene but the governor spelt out three conditions: The emir should abdicate, or be impeached or the emirate Balkanized. From the situation on the ground it is apparent that the emir chose balkanization over resignation as four more emirates were already functioning. The greediness of both side is clearly spelt out by the situation we found ourselves today, as on the part of the emir he failed to choose the way of his forebear who honorably chose resignation instead of humiliation. The Governor on his part has proved insensitive to public opinion (one wouldn’t wonder about that considering the hook and crooked way he remains in office). Why would the governor subject millions of Kano people into their dirty fight? Shouldn’t he have forced the emir alone to pay for what he perceived as an affront on himself by forcing resignation or impeachment? Lacking maturity and consideration of public opinion like the Sardauna, our Governor, like a mad cow in a china shop, decided to wreck the havoc insensitive to its consequences. I know a prince of Gaya emirate that vigorously campaigned for the re-election of the governor, but recently when we met he quickly offered me apologies and his regret for supporting Ganduje. His reasons were, the Gaya district now has its jurisdiction scattered across Bichi, Karaye and Rano emirates. He lamented about the difficulty the creation of the new emirates is going to exert on the whole system. Besides, in this dire economic downturn, why the unnecessary financial burden on the state? The expenditure the 4 new emirates will exert on the state coppers would surely be monumental, while there are better areas to channel them.

It is high time we, as the Muslims we claimed to be, start judging people not by virtue of their positions but by the fruits of their contributions to society. Unless we judge people in fairness not by sentiment, we will continue to be divided among ourselves unnecessarily. It is clear both Ganduje and Sunusi are fighting a personal war that is dictated by their own bloated egos, why should we muddle ourselves and fight each other for them? In recent time no issue has divided Kano like this and the social media is awash with warriors of the opposing sides lashing at each other as we forget the imminent threat of banditry and kidnap that is slowly engulfing us, due to the inept and indifference exhibited by our leaders.