The Kano State House of Assembly has nullified the Emirates Council Law, a decision that effectively reversed the decentralization of the Kano monarchial system.
Also, this new development has resulted in the removal of five emirs who were installed by the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The lawmakers made this decision during a special session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jibrin Falgore.
The Kano state emirates council law 2019, which created five new Emirates, was initially assented to by Ganduje on December 5, 2019.
Section 3(1) of the law established five distinct Emirates: Kano, Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye, each with varying numbers of local government areas under their jurisdiction.
Section 4 of the law established the state council of chiefs, whose membership includes the five emirs, the secretary to the state government, the commissioner for local governments, five chairmen (one from each Emirates), 10 kingmakers, representatives from the business community, and the security agencies, as well as 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.
Following the deposition of Emir Muhammad Sanusi, who chaired the council, on March 9, 2020, the law was amended to state that the chairman of the council shall be the emir of the Kano emirate.
Section 10 stipulates that the council shall perform functions assigned to it by the governor and shall have the power to appoint district, village, and ward heads, as well as suspend or dismiss them.
Section 11 states that upon the death, resignation, or deposition of any emir, the governor may, in consultation with the council of chiefs, appoint a successor from persons nominated by the kingmakers of the affected emirate. If the kingmakers fail to nominate a successor within three days, the governor may appoint a person from the heirs to the throne.
