This comes as the ancient city of Kano in northwest Nigeria boils over the dethronement of five emirs and the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was dethroned as the Emir of Kano in 2020.
Islamic organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called for the repeal of laws that empower governors to dethrone traditional rulers in Nigeria for sanity to prevail.
This comes as the ancient city of Kano in northwest Nigeria boils over the dethronement of five emirs and the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was dethroned as the Emir of Kano in 2020.
A statement issued by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Sunday called for the repeal.
MURIC said, "The city of Kano is currently embroiled in crisis as the state governor, Abba Yusuf, deposed five emirs and reinstated Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who was dethroned as emir of Kano on Monday, 9th March 2020.
"A court injunction seeking to stop the reinstatement of Sanusi was sidestepped and the governor ordered the arrest of the emir, Aminu Ado Bayero. But in a dramatic twist, security agencies, including the army, the Nigerian police and the Department of State Services (DSS) beefed up security in Aminu Ado Bayero's palace to disallow his arrest.
"MURIC is shocked by these developments. It is not only embarrassing but confusing and that is to say the least as we struggle to restrain ourselves from going into any explosive outburst. Politicians are out to debilitate, destabilize and finally dismantle the traditional system. The governors have bastardised the traditional system the same way they messed up the local government system all over the country.
"The show of power in Kano in the last 48 hours is symptomatic of a serious decay and big threat to our nascent democracy. Traditional rulers are made victims of political intrigues and the fear of the total collapse of traditional values hangs above our heads like the sword of Damocles.
"It is an open secret that governors act with politics at the back of their minds. We strongly condemn the way and manner two governors, past and present, have turned the revered stool of the ancient city of Kano into a tool for ping-pong game and our traditional rulers who should be respected by the governors are now being pushed hither and thither.
"It is not a Kano affair alone. The South West, South East and other parts of the North have witnessed the deposition of traditional rulers.”
The group noted that its position has always been that “governors should no longer be allowed to dethrone traditional rulers and we have ventilated this campaign on several occasions”.
It said, “It is time we demand from our lawmakers to immunise traditional rulers from disgraceful, untimely, unnecessary and politically motivated dethronements.
“This campaign should be taken up in all the 36 state houses of assembly. The law which empowers governors to depose kings should be repealed.
"That will not necessarily make the traditional rulers all powerful. Traditional rulers who misbehave can still be sanctioned by the kingmakers. He can be suspended or dethroned but it will be by his own people. The kingmakers are enough for the king as checks and balances.
"MURIC appeals to all stakeholders in the Kano imbroglio to tread softly. They should desist from making inflammable statements.
"All sides in the saga have gone to the extreme. The deposition of Emir Sanusi in 2020 allegedly for insubordination was an extreme measure. But ordering the arrest of Emir Ado Bayero after his removal is high-handed, particularly without stating his crime.
“Revenge is a wild dish and the path of moderation is the path of decency. This is a democracy and the days of L'État, c'est moi are far gone.”
"While we call on Kano citizens to remain calm, we appeal to the security agencies to avoid confrontation. Kano must not burn," it added.