The Presidency on Wednesday hinted on why the President, Muhammadu Buhari could not save the former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido from dethronement.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Media and Publicity to the President Mallam Garba Shehu and his public affairs counterpart, Mr Ajuri Ngela, said Buhari “does not meddle in local or state affairs”.
In a statement, Shehu said opposition elements were spreading “politically-motivated and untrue insinuations”, over Sanusi’s removal.
The spokesman said: “President Buhari has no involvement whatsoever in the dethronement of HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II from the position of Emir of Kano. All such insinuations are untrue, malicious and politically-motivated.
“The President does not have a history of intervening in the affairs of any state in the country, unless the issue at hand is of national consequence. On such matters, which impinge on national security, he has a duty of involvement as the law stipulates.
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“As outlined in the constitution, the appointment or removal of emirs and other traditional leaders is strictly within the jurisdiction of state governments. It is unfair and disingenuous of opposition politicians to try to link the situation in Kano State to the Federal Government and the President.
“Although a General and former Military Head of State, President Buhari, clearly understands that, under the current democratic dispensation, the government at the centre cannot read instructions or twist the arms of all or any of the 36 state governments making up the federation. They all have their powers specified under the Constitution.”
Shehu hailed the people of Kano for being calm after Sanusi’s dethronement.
In his own statement, Ngelale accused Kwankwaso of trying to leverage on the Sanusi saga “to advance his 2023 presidential ambition.”
He said: “The former governor is underestimating the intelligence of Nigerians. He thinks they cannot see through his futile attempt to leverage on the sensitive internal political situation in Kano State to advance his own 2023 Presidential ambition.
‘He wrongly calculates that he can manufacture public hostility against President Buhari and the ruling party in the state and region by saying that the President was behind the dethronement of an Emir in the State.
“He should know that such cheap tricks will not undermine the unparalleled popularity enjoyed by the President in Kano and in the region as a whole.
“Anyone who wants to be President of Nigeria should rather spend their time trying to convince Nigerians why they deserve votes instead of chasing after shadows.”
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