The 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has begun major renovation works on the Nasarawa Palace, which he has been occupying since he was dethroned by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Daily News 24 reports that the Emir Bayero is currently locked in a bitter royal battle with the 16th Emir of Kano and nephew, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was reinstated by Governor to the Kano Emirate stool in May 2024.
A prototype of how the Nasarawa Palace might look after the renovation of the royal building is already being shared on the social media.
Confirming the development in an exclusive interview with Daily News 24 on Saturday, Abubakar Hassan, the Dan Mori of Kano said Emir Bayero has already started effecting changes to the inside of the Palace.
“The Emir has begun expanding the Hubbare, which serves as the graveyard of his predecessors such as late Emir Abbas. I can confirm that work has begun from the inside of the royal building,” he said.
Mr Hassan added that after finishing the renovation of the inside structures, the Emir also plans to build railings as well as a befitting gate for the Palace.
“The Emir is doing all this work with his personal funds. Nobody has given him a dime to do the work,” said.
Our correspondent noticed that a text that accompanies the images of the prototype of the Nasarawa Palace that is being shared on social media read as follows:
“While His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero accepts the Court Order of Maintaining Status-Quo Ante in the Emirship Tussle, and as he remains the Emir of Kano, under this Court proceeding, that Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, himself finds it necessary to remodel and face-lift the Nassarawa GRA Palace, before moving to the main Palace of Gidan Rumfa. This is the prototype of the project.”
Following the dethronement of Emir Bayero, Governor Yusuf had approved N100 million for the renovation of the Nasarawa Palace and ordered the eviction of Mr Bayero.
Also read: Kano Emirship Tussle: Bayero makes first trip since dethronement
But the governor’s directive could not be implemented as the Emir is heavily guarded by the police, the army and other security agencies due to an order of the federal high court, which directed the Kano state government to maintain status quo.
The Kano Emirate Crisis
Recall that following his dethronement, a senior emirate official, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, had filed a lawsuit at the federal high court in Kano challenging the dethronement of Emir Bayero and the repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law.
The Federal High Court, under Justice Muhammad Liman had ordered the Kano state government to maintain status quo and also restrained Governor Yusuf from repealing the emirate law and removing Mr Bayero.
But Governor Yusuf had already signed a emirate law restoring Sanusi to the throne and abolishing additional emirates in the state.
The Kano state government had since filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal and the case is still before the appellate court.
The repealed law, signed by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje had created four oother emirates in Bichi, Gaya, Rano and Karaye local government areas.
The law also restricted the influence of the Kano Emirate to only eight local government areas of the state under then Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, who was subsequently deposed by Mr Ganduje.
However, following his election, Governor Yusuf restored Mr Sanusi and deposed Mr Bayero and the four other emirs appointed by his predecessor.
But the governor later appointed second class emirs in Gaya, Karaye and Rano local government areas, who are expected to report to Emir Sanusi II.
The spokesperson of the Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa could not be reached by phone call as his number was not reachable.
Daily News 24 has a text message to him seeking his reaction, but he has yet to reply at the time of filing this report.
When will this conflict in the emirate be resolved? I hold Sanusi Lamido Sanusi responsible. If I were him, I would refuse the offer to become Emir of Kano again since HRH Emir Aminu is my brother.