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Power Play: How Northern Governors Renew Control Over Traditional Institutions

In what appears akin to clash of systems, political elite especially governors in northern Nigeria are renewing and reasserting their control over traditional institutions.

Although they have no explicit role in the Nigeria’s Constitution, traditional institutions are revered as custodians of culture and tradition.

At various times, the once powerful traditional institutions are now at the mercy of governors who often chose to control the monarchs from emirs down the ladder to village heads.

In a recurring trend, traditional rulers are facing threats of dethronement, total control and interference in running their emirates from state governors. The emirs are often accused of various offences including involvement in partisan politics.

WikkiTimes highlights major emirates in northern Nigeria that are currently experiencing or at least recently experienced cold relationship between the emirs and their state governors.

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Prominent emirs, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sarkin Kano, and Sarkin Katsina, have become targets of interference in their activities by different state administrations. The ongoing Kano emirship tussle and recent queries and amendments to chieftaincy acts in Sokoto and Katsina states have sparked concerns about the erosion of prestige and influence associated with traditional institutions.

The Sultanate of Sokoto

The revered Sultanate Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, has also been targeted recently.

The Sokoto State government in an attempt to reduce the powers of the Sultan, proposed an amendment of the act which gives the Sultan powers to appoint district heads (Hakimai) and village heads within the state. The bill which was just passed by the State House of Assembly has eliminated the right of appointing or deposing a district head from the control of the sultan.

This attempt was greeted with massive condemnation across the country with the Vice President Kashim Shettima drawing the attention of the state government on the need to respect the sanctity of the position of the Sultan who is revered as the de facto leader of the Muslim ummah in Nigeria.

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The Kano Emirate

The Kano Emirate has lately engulfed in crisis when in 2020, the then State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, unbundled the ancient Emirate into five smaller emirates. Rano, Bichi, Karaye and Gaya emirates emerged. Subsequently, Ganduje deposed Emir Sanusi II for alleged insubordination and misappropriation. The 14th emir was exiled to Nasarawa State before he reclaimed his right of movement in court.

In 2024, the kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf reappointed Muhammadu Sanusi after the State Assembly repealed the 2023 law that consolidated creation of five emirs.

Now deposed Emir Aminu Bayero alongside a kingmaker, Aminu Babba, has been challenging his sack at the Federal High Court, Kano. He was awarded compensation for violating his fundamental human rights in the process.

Meanwhile Emir Sanusi 11 and Kano Government have recently secured ruling that banned Aminu and deposed emirs of Rano, Bichi, Karaye and Gaya from parading themselves as emirs.

However, Gov. Yusuf  has just recently reappointed the deposed emir of Gaya as new emir of reduced Gaya Emirate alongside new emirs for Rano and Karaye Emirates.

The new monarchs of Gaya, Rano and Karaye emirates will function as second-class emirs under the Kano emirate which will serve as the sole first class in the state.

The Katsina Emirate

Following the ongoing Kano emirship tussle, and stripped powers of Sultan of Sokoto, Katsina state was not left behind in the emirship tussle as just of recent, the state government has queried the Sarkin Katsina Abdulmumini Kabir demanding explanation on why some district heads failed to show up for the Eid-l-Kabir Sallah durbar. Yet many see this as an attempt to check influence of the emirates.

The state government in response through the Information Commissioner, Bala Salisu Zango said it has the power to divide the emirates but affirmed that the recent query has no political vengeance against the emir.

The Bauchi Emirate

In Bauchi, traditional rulers who were alleged to have sided with the opposition parties have been sacked by the present administration of Bala Muhammed before and after the 2023 general elections. These district heads, including the elder statesman and Wazirin Bauchi, Bello Kirfi were alleged to have worked against the governor’s reelection bid and supported the opposition parties, mainly the APC.

WikkiTimes recalled that Bauchi State Local Government Service Commission had in July last year sacked six traditional rulers for allegedly participating in partisan politics.

The affected traditional rulers were from Bauchi and Katagum Emirates Councils.

The Acting Permanent Secretary for the commission, Nasiru Ibrahim Dewu, disclosed that the traditional rulers were dismissed based on their participation in partisan politics, misconduct and misappropriation of public funds among others.

“The Local Government Service Commission has approved the dismissal of six traditional rulers from Bauchi and Katagum Emirate Councils based on partisan politics, Misconduct, illegal forest reserve encroachment and felling of trees, misappropriation of public funds and insubordination which is contrary to the civil service rules.

“The traditional rulers affected from Katagum Emirate include district head of Dubi Aminu Muhammed Malami; district head of Azare, Bashir Kabir Umar; village Head of Tafiya, Umar Omar and village of head of Tarmasawa, Umar Bani.

“Those affected from Bauchi Emirate include village Head of Beni, Bello Sulaiman and village head of Badara, Yusuf Aliyu Badara,” the statement read in parts.

Experts Caution

Experts warn that this trend threatens the cultural and historical significance of these institutions, which have played a vital role in the region’s governance and social cohesion for centuries. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has urged the Sokoto State government to respect the sanctity of the Sultan’s position, while others see the moves as political machinations aimed at weakening the traditional rulers’ influence.

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In Bauchi, six traditional rulers were sacked for alleged partisan politics, highlighting the growing tension between governors and traditional rulers. The development raises questions about the limits of executive power and the role of traditional institutions in Nigeria’s democracy.”

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