The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has declined to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu in explaining its economic policies, citing personal grievances and decades of poor governance as reasons for his decision.
Speaking on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025), Sanusi criticized the administration’s approach to policies affecting Nigerians. He acknowledged his ability to clarify the predictability and trajectory of the reforms but expressed a deliberate choice not to assist the government.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” Sanusi stated.
Deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 and reinstated in 2024 under the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government, Sanusi highlighted the administration’s lack of credible figures to communicate its policies effectively. “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. I watch them being stooges,” he remarked.
The Emir attributed Nigeria’s economic woes to “decades of irresponsible economic management” and expressed frustration over warnings about the country’s unsustainable path being ignored. “People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No,” he said.
Sanusi’s tenure as the 16th Emir has been marked by controversy, including federal recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, and a police blockade of his palace last month. The Kano State Government attributed the incident to federal interference aimed at inciting unrest.
Despite these challenges, Sanusi remains vocal in urging the government to take responsibility for explaining its policies to Nigerians, while he continues to observe from the sidelines.
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