Kano Deputy Governor Apologizes To NSA Ribadu Over Emirate Crisis Allegations, Cites Misinformation
The Kano State Government has issued a public apology to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, regarding allegations of his involvement in the recent crisis that shook the emirate council in the state.
The crisis erupted shortly after Governor Abba Yusuf signed the Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment number 2) Bill, 2024, following its passage by the state’s house of assembly on Wednesday. The law dissolved the five emirates created by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje and reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi ll, reverting the institution to a single emirate.
However, Aminu Dan’agundi, a title holder in the dissolved emirate, challenged the decision in a Federal High Court presided over by Justice A.M Liman. Despite lacking jurisdiction and being outside the country, Justice Liman granted an ex-parte order restraining the Kano State Government from enforcing the law.
On Saturday morning, the deposed emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, was smuggled into the city and accommodated in the Nassarawa Emir Palace, with the intention of moving him to his former throne and ousting the reinstated emir.
During a press briefing, the state deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, alleged that Mr. Bayero’s return to Kano was orchestrated by the NSA. However, Mr. Ribadu denied any involvement and demanded a public apology from the deputy governor, threatening legal action otherwise.
At a press conference on Monday morning, Mr. Abdulsalam apologized to Mr. Ribadu, acknowledging that the government had been misled into making the allegation. He expressed shock that Mr. Ribadu’s name was mentioned in the plot to impose a deposed emir in Kano, stating that given his pedigree and antecedent, Mr. Ribadu would have admitted involvement if it were true.
The deputy governor expressed surprise at how the emirate tussle had taken a different dimension and wondered why the issue of the court order had become the main point of the crisis. He disclosed that out of the eight respondents in the suit, only the Inspector of Police was served with the order.
Mr. Abdulsalam blamed certain powerful elements for brewing the crisis and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. He emphasized that the government is not intimidated by any forces but stressed the need to maintain peace in the state. The deputy governor noted that the matter had been politicized and urged the president not to allow himself to be dragged into the mud.
