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The erosion of traditional authority: Lessons from the Kano Emirate crisis

The foundation of any reign must be built on truth and transparency in order to gain the much-needed legitimacy
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Reinstated Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido [PHOTO CREDIT: @sanusilamidoofficial]
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The story of Emir Lamido Sanusi, who ascended the throne as the 16th Emir of Kano four years after being deposed as the 14th, reads like the dramatic epic “Game of Thrones.” The real conflict is not about claimants to the traditional throne, but about political power in Kano State. The government has become the new royalty, overshadowing one of the most revered and influential Islamic thrones in Africa. That throne, which has historically wielded immense influence over the people, has now lost its lustre. The political machinations of the government of Kano State have trampled the powers of the ancient Kano kingdom underfoot, reducing what was once a symbol of unassailable authority to a pawn in the power dynamics of contemporary politics. Before we blame the government, we must ask: what brought the throne to the point where it could be trodden upon, and what lessons can we learn with regard to revering our traditional institutions?

Before Emir Lamido Sanusi was enthroned as the Emir of Kano, his predecessor, Alhaji Ado Bayero, reigned for 51 years until his death in 2014. During Bayero’s reign, the possibility of the government to remove the emir was unimaginable given the influence he wielded. Ado Bayero put Kano on the national and global stage as he became one of the most influential Muslim leaders in the world. According to the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan, Bayero was “regarded as a wise counsellor at home and abroad because of his experience and ability to mediate between cultures.”  Given Ado Bayero’s illustrious legacy, the least that could have been done was to follow due process in the enthronement of his successor. Unfortunately, this was sacrificed on the altar of politics.

Sanusi was not the choice of the kingmakers, according to Tanko Yakassai, a leader of the Arewa Consultative Forum. Yakassai said that after the Bayero’s death, “his eldest son was announced as emir, but it was later changed.” Sanusi’s enthronement had little to do with the consent of the people; rather, it was imposed on them because he had a common enemy in President Goodluck Jonathan, who was seeking re-election. In reaction to the controversial emergence of the former CBN governor as the new Emir of Kano a few minutes after his name was announced, hundreds of youths took over the main streets of the ancient city to protest against Sanusi’s choice.

Because the foundation of his enthronement was flawed, his illegitimacy was easy to exploit. Sanusi lost his emirship to the same partisan politics that gave it to him in the first place. In an ironic twist, he was made emir by an APC government in Kano for making privileged revelations that disadvantaged the PDP government, and was later removed as emir by an APC government for his overt and covert actions that could have benefited the PDP during the 2019 general elections. How can one influence the actions of the government or keep it in check if one lacks popular legitimacy? It’s like playing with fire while sitting on a keg of gunpowder. His sack did not instigate any protests, so it seemed good riddance for Kano people.

There is a lesson here for Nigerian and African traditional rulers. Knowing the importance of the role of traditional rulers as the voice of the people, custodians of our cultures and pillars of truth, the bar must be set very high. We may not be able to constitutionally give the throne as much power, but the support of their people can make a difference in times of need. The foundation of any reign must be built on truth and transparency in order to gain the much-needed legitimacy.

In addition, other traditional rulers must come together at the beginning of a throne and use their influence and collective power to ensure that the right thing is done. This is necessary to protect traditional institutions. It is one way to prevent more situations like the one we are witnessing in Kano Emirate. Our northern emirates, as well as other thrones across the country, need to unite and speak truth to power as their forebears did.

There is a precedent for such unity. When the controversial Emir of Muri was appointed in 1988, the northern traditional rulers came together to declare his emirship illegitimate and boycott its activities because he was not chosen by the kingmakers and the people. They refused to deal with him in any way, which has helped relegate the emirate to the ranks of the less revered. Although they missed their chance to do the right thing when Sanusi Lamido was first crowned, probably because of the political implications of his emergence at the time, it’s not too late for their voice to be heard.

It’s a well-known reality around the world that politicians often put their selfish interests before the well-being of the people. Our traditional leaders must understand that the more they allow themselves to become tools in the hands of politicians, the more they erode their legitimacy and lose the support of their communities. Those who aspire to serve as traditional rulers across the continent must realise that the throne demands our cherished African value of integrity. Therefore, the process by which one ascends the throne is as important as the values and traditions they seek to uphold and protect. For traditional institutions to remain relevant and respected, they must embody the principles of transparency, accountability and genuine service to the people.

To prevent further erosion of traditional authority, African traditional rulers must ensure that their legitimacy is rooted in transparency and genuine support from their communities. This is the only way to safeguard their role as custodians of culture and pillars of truth and to ensure their continued relevance and respect in an ever-changing political landscape.

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