Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has criticized the Federal Government’s use of soldiers in Kano, stating that it undermines the peace and security of the state and violates the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He expressed his views in a statement posted on his official social media handle on Saturday.
According to Atiku, the Kano State House of Assembly and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf followed the appropriate process in passing and signing the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Bill 2024, which repealed the 2019 version that divided the historic Kano Emirate into five.
“The deployment of soldiers by the Federal Government in Kano to intervene in the dispute over the throne of the ancient city is a disruption to the peace and security of the state,” Atiku stated.
He emphasized that the events that unfolded were carried out within the legal framework and in compliance with the powers vested in the Governor by Section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Atiku highlighted that the Governor consulted with the Kingmakers of Kano and reappointed Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (also known as Muhammadu Sanusi II) as the 16th Emir of Kano State, issuing him a letter of appointment accordingly.
Atiku expressed surprise at the actions taken in the early hours of the day, where the former Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, with the support of federal forces, entered the Nasarawa Palace of the Kano Emirate while the reappointed Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was at the Gidan Dabo, the main residence of the Emir of Kano.
Atiku then warned that any attempt to destabilize the peace and harmony of Kano State would be met with resistance.
