Tobias Sylvester
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, said that the dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, can live anywhere he wants including Kano State.
After his dethronement, there were reports that Sanusi was banished to Nasarawa State where he’s expected to spend the rest of his life in exile.
But, while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday in Awe, Nasarawa State, when he visited the deposed monarch, El-Rufai said that a federal capital territory high court has ruled that Sanusi can go anywhere.
“As you know the federal high court in Abuja today declared his detention illegal and unconstitutional and his banishment also in violation of the constitution, so he is free,” el-Rufai said.
“He can live anywhere he wants including Kano city, if he wants. But we are on our way to Abuja. It is quite likely that the emir proceeds to Lagos which was his preferred destination from day one.
“From the day he was informed of his deposition, it was his wish to go to Lagos because part of his family is now in Lagos. And by the grace of God we’re on our way to Lagos.”
KanyiDaily recalls that El-Rufai had appointed Sanusi as the Vice Chairman of Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA) as well as Chancellor of the State University, barely 72 hours after his dethronement as Emir of Kano.
Explaining why he offered double appointments to the dethroned emir, El-Rufai said Sanusi is a global asset with a network of contacts around the world that can turn around the economic fortunes of Kaduna state by bringing a lot of investment to the state.
He also said Sanusi has been with him from his teenage years and has never left him, stating that he also cannot leave the ex-emir at this time.
“In his position as Emir of Kano, I couldn’t have offered him the appointment because I believe he should be attracting investments to Kano state. But once he became available, I ceased the opportunity to bring that value to Kaduna state,” the governor explained.
On Sanusi’s appointment as the Chancellor of the state university, El-Rufai said:
“I believe he (Sanusi) will add a lot of value to the growth of our university, which will be a multi-campus varsity with presence in seven out of the 23 local government areas of the state. We believe he can help a lot in implementing that road map,” he said.
Governor El-Rufai, who left Awe with the deposed Emir following the court order for his release, disclosed that Sanusi was heading to Lagos to be reunited with his family.
