The Presidency has denied allegations by former Governor of Kano state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the dethronement of Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11.
Spokesperson of the President, Garba Shehu, in a series of tweets stated that the insinuations that President Buhari is aware of Sanusi’s removal is untrue and politically motivated.
According to Shehu “President Muhammadu Buhari has no involvement whatsoever in the dethronement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II from the position of Emir of Kano. All such insinuations are untrue, malicious and politically motivated”
He further stated that the “President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.
“As outlined in the Constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments, he added.
Shehu noted that it was ‘unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the federal government and the Nigerian President’.
Backing the state’s Governor powers to dethrone the Emir, he stated that although the President is a retired General and former Military Head of State, Buhari understands that the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation.
They all have their powers specified under the Constitution, he added.
President Buhari also commended the people of Kano for keeping calm in the past few days of the dethronement announcement.
He prayed that the will of Allah will be done at all times, and that the emirate/state and its people continue to experience progress irrespective of who is on the throne.
