Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has described himself as a radical traditional ruler.
The monarch said that he graduated from the late Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman’s school of progressive struggle to become a teacher, banker and now a radical Emir.
Emir Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi, a former CBN governor said struggle only has meaning if it is against injustice and oppression, adding that any other struggle is meaningless.
Speaking on at the 10th anniversary memorial seminar organised by the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training in honour of the late Usman in Kaduna yesterday, the Emir said the message Bala left was one that everyone should take home.
According to him, “we spend so many decades fighting a system, and every time we think we have defeated one system, the next one seems to be even worse and it is like an uphill task. If you look at what we were fighting in the 1970’s and 1980’s against the NPN, and compare the NPN with what came after that, the NPN will look like an angel.
“So, we are at a point in this country where we actually have to reverse this trend. For us that were in ABU in the 70’s, we were inspired or taught by the late Bala. He was an undisputed leader of Northern progressives.
“Most of us graduated to become radical teachers, radical professors, radical bankers and radical emirs, but we never left the essential message of Bala and it is a message that all of us should take home.
“In life, if you are at all committed to struggle, struggle only has meaning if it is against injustice and oppression. Any other struggle is meaningless.
“Fighting for ethnicity, starting needless and mindless religious wars, struggle for spores of power, none of those are worth it.
“People are dying every day from lack of education, from lack healthcare, lack of security, bad governance, corruption, bad economic policies and the real struggle that is meaningful in our lives is to try to improve that situation and fight against those injustices.
“It has been my misfortune to be always mis-categorised in government, but I am not a card bearing member of any political party. But I have friends who shared the same vision of Bala Usman and that is what brought us together.
“I pray that this seminar will continue the tradition of cultivating minds and setting mindsets, programmes and hopefully, those minds will be integral to the change that we want, the removal of oppression and injustice and the creation of a better society which was the dream of the late Bala Usman.”
Former central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido, has called on his successor to devalue the naira and warned that Africa’s biggest economy is in danger of a long term slump unless the government confronts slowing growth.
Sanusi Lamido
“Let’s stop being in denial, we cannot artificially hold up the currency,” Sanusi, now the Emir of Kano, Nigeria’s second-ranked Muslim leader, said in a speech he delivered on Thursday in Lagos broadcast on CNBC Africa. President Muhammadu Buhari “needs help on the economy,” he said. Buhari has said he opposes a weakening of the naira.
Under current Governor Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria’s central bank has curbed dollar funding since March, virtually fixing the exchange rate, even as other oil exporters from Russia to Colombia and Kazakhstan have let their currencies weaken. Nigeria derives two-thirds of government revenue and 90 percent of export earnings from sales of the commodity. Limiting access to dollars has stabilized the naira, which has closed at about 198-199 per dollar since declining about 8 percent in the first quarter.
The central bank’s rationing of hard currency and restrictions on foreign-exchange trading are hurting the economy, said Sanusi, 54. The economy expanded 2.35 percent on an annualized basis in the second quarter, the slowest pace since at least 2010.
Industry Deprivation
“We are depriving certain key industries of imports,” he said. “If we have to make a choice between economic growth and a devaluation, my recommendation is that we protect growth.”
Monetary officials should lower the key interest rate from a record high of 13 percent to help stimulate the economy since the government lacks the funds to boost spending in the face of lower oil prices, Sanusi said. Nigeria is Africa’s top crude producer.
“The portfolio flows are gone,” he said. “Inflation is already upon us. You have fiscal consolidation. It is time to loosen monetary policy. Otherwise we compound an exchange rate crisis for businesses with high borrowing costs and declining demand.”
Investment Outflows
Portfolio investors have fled Nigeria, with foreign holdings of naira government bonds falling to less than 10 percent of the total from 27 percent in 2013, according to Standard Chartered Plc. Sanusi also called on the ministers who will serve in Buhari’s cabinet not to act like “courtiers.”
“I hope people will have the courage to know that loyalty is about telling your boss the truth,” he said. Buhari, who came to power in May, has nominated ministers, although he hasn’t publicly unveiled their portfolios, and the Senate has to approve the nominees.
Sanusi, who became governor in 2009, was suspended by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March 2014 after he accused the state oil company of withholding billions of dollars from the government.
He won praise from investors for cleaning up the banking sector after a crisis in 2009 and attracting more bond and stock investment from abroad.
“Lamido Sanusi, being an expert, has his ground for saying this,” Ibrahim Mu’azu, a spokesman for the central bank in the capital Abuja, said by phone. “The central bank may look into what he is saying.”
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the current Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, says President Goodluck Jonathan lost because of the mood of voters which was determined by the economic conditions and level of poverty across the country.
Sanusi, who is now known as Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Saturday.
He said the voting showed that areas which had a high rate of poverty felt neglected by the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government over the years.
Sanusi said the presidential poll results showed that the figures of the PDP in presidential elections from 1999 had continued to dwindle significantly.
The monarch said the PDP got fewer votes in 2007, less in 2011 and then fewer votes in 2015 causing the ruling party to finally lose to the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.
He said, “I think in 2011, it was very clear that Jonathan had lost many states in the North that had previously been won by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. And it was clear that there was a general sense by people of the Federal Government not investing in the areas where there is a high level of poverty.
“I believe more and more of those states began to feel that sense of not feeling the federal presence and not feeling the impact of democracy in their pockets and I think it is extremely important for people to connect with the government and when you have such conditions after 16 years of democracy, it was natural that people would want to have a change and I think this is basically what has happened.
“I don’t think it is something about an individual, I think it is something that has been going on for a number of years and you could see the states won by the PDP in 1999 and what they won in 2003, what they won in 2007, 2011 and you would begin to see the changes in the way Nigerians were responding so it was a matter of time.”
Sanusi, however, commended Jonathan, the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari; and the Independent National Electoral Commission for the conduct and atmosphere of the election.
He said change of leadership was good for democracy as it encouraged healthy competition. He said it was the trend in democracies across the world.
“I think it is good for the country that you have different parties winning and if the APC performs, they get another term and if they don’t, they get voted out after four years and it is extremely important that this happens so let us not see it in terms of somebody losing,” he said.
Sanusi also urged Buhari not to focus solely on corruption but on other areas that required urgent government attention such as education, decaying infrastructure, diversifying the economy and fixing power.
Abuja—The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, accused the Emir of Kano, HH Muhammadu Sanusi, of attempting to reinvent the wheel of his false allegations against the corporation, advising the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to own up and apologise for his errors.
Sanusi Lamido
The NNPC was reacting to claims by Sanusi, who gave an interview to an international news medium, that the issues surrounding the alleged unremitted $20 billion have not been adequately addressed.
The NNPC in a statement by Mr. Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, said, “We believe that his royal dignity will be best served and preserved if he owns up to his error of raising false allegation and apologise for same rather than continue in error believing that if he continues to harp on his false allegation it will someday be accepted as the truth.”
According to Alegbe, the respected traditional ruler has got it wrong again in much the same way his failure to grasp the issues of remittances to the Federation Account led him into the embarrassing error of alleging that NNPC failed to remit $49.8 billion oil revenue into the Federation Account, an allegation which has since been proved to be false even by his own account.
He called on Nigerians to discountenance the latest attempt to resurrect the campaign of calumny against the NNPC.
Alegbe insisted that the latest strategy of Sanusi is against the findings of the Senate Committee on Finance and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), who both cleared the NNPC of the allegation.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the latest gambit of the former CBN governor and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, to reinvent the wheel of his false allegations against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation by insisting, during an interview with Christiane Amanpour of the Cable News Network (CNN), that the issues surrounding his allegation of unremitted $20bn have not been adequately addressed.
“According to the royal father, ‘One of them (issues) is the billions of dollars being paid in kerosene subsidies without appropriation by the National Assembly and against a presidential order and we don’t know who authorised those payments and yet no one has owned up to say I authorised the payments, I made a mistake’.
“But it is on record that he (as CBN Governor) attended the hearings of the Senate Committee on Finance where the issue of kerosene subsidy was exhaustively looked at vis-à-vis the Presidential Memo directing the removal of kerosene subsidy. The explanation was that the process of implementing the Presidential directive was not followed through by the Minister of Petroleum Resources at that time as required by law which technically meant that kerosene subsidy was not removed.
“It was on the basis of this that the Senate Committee on Finance in its report recommended that the Executive should prepare and present to the National Assembly a supplementary budget ‘to cover the expenditure in the sum of N90.6 billion for Premium Motor Spirit subsidy 2012 and N685.9 billion for kerosene subsidy expended without appropriation by the National Assembly’.
“PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) also observed in its recent forensic audit report thus: ‘Regarding the issue of subsidy on DPK (kerosene) the Presidential Directive of 19 October, 2009, was not gazetted and there is no other legal instrument cancelling the subsidy on DPK. The Senate Committee had also concluded that all that was now required was for the FGN to propose appropriation for the unappropriated subsidy for the period in a supplemental budget.’
Alegbe further stated that the NNPC is at a loss as to the import of Sanusi’s statement that issues surrounding his allegation of unremitted $20 billion, especially regarding kerosene subsidy, have not been adequately addressed.
He queried why Sanusi appears hell-bent on hanging a tag of corruption on the NNPC even when all the inquiries into his allegation of unremitted funds have proved otherwise, adding that his persistence remains a mystery to the corporation.
Continuing, he said, “Both the Senate Committee on Finance and PricewaterhouseCoopers have investigated the allegations and came out with reports exonerating the Corporation.
“It would be recalled that Sanusi began his campaign of calumny against the Corporation with a false alarm that it failed to remit a whopping $49.8 billion being proceeds of crude oil sales into the Federation Account.
“Upon reconciliation of the figures with relevant agencies whereupon it was discovered that the balance of unremitted oil revenue was actually the amount spent by the Corporation on its operations in accordance with the law (NNPC Act), Sanusi II began to play games with figures submitting at various times that $10.8 billion, $12 billion, and $20 billion was what was unremitted by the Corporation.”
….says Buhari is right on the level of corruption in Nigeria
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), is right on the level of corruption in the country.
Speaking Christine Amanpour on CNN on Wednesday, Sanusi, the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, believed the level of corruption in the country was massive and needed to be addressed sufficiently.
“Yes, General Buhari is right on the level of corruption in the country and we need to address this sufficiently. We have not helped the situation by living in denial (that the situation does not exist). I don’t want to dwell on this because of the time that we are and we are close to an election,” he added.
One of the pillars of Buhari’s campaign is to fight corruption, which he argued had not allowed the nation to grow appreciably.
The Kano emir insisted that about $20bn was missing from the account of the NNPC, which was not remitted to the federation account.
“This has not been addressed adequately and from the account of the corporation, about $20bn was not remitted to the federation account. We need to address this,” Sanusi said.
The monarch explained that other leaders must rise up to speak against the activities of the terror group, Boko Haram, saying he was not afraid to die as a result of his opposition to the sect.
“I have achieved everything that I could achieve; so, what is there to be afraid of?” he said.
Sanusi decried the level of unemployment, especially in the North, insecurity and the endemic corruption in the country.
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Rabi’u Kwankwaso, on Saturday presented the staff of office to the 14th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Sanusi Lamido
Sanusi was appointed the 14th Emir of Kano on June 8, 2014 after the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero, on June 6, 2014.
At the ceremony held at the newly constructed Coronation Hall at the Government House, Kwankwaso described the Emir as a
“knowledgeable person who acquired both the Islamic and western education”.
He said the appointment of Sanusi was based on his personal track record of service and education, which are the pre-requisites, especially at this time.
“This occasion is a unique one for me personally as I present this staff of office to Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano.
“Above all, he is heir apparent of the throne, who has distinguished himself as an outstanding religious scholar that is quite conversant with our time”, he said.
Kwankwaso commended all personalities and dignitaries who came from far and near to grace the occasion.
Responding, Sanusi promised to ensure justice and fairness in the discharge of his responsibilities.
He also promised to discharge his duties with the fear of God and to treat the people equally in order to ensure peace, unity and economic growth and development of the emirate and the country.
The ceremony was attended by former heads of state Yakubu Gowon and Muhammadu Buhari; Governors of Katsina, Yobe, Niger, Sokoto and Kaduna States.
Other dignitaries at the event includes the ambassadors of the United State of America, Italy, Canada and the British High Commissioner. (NAN)
One of Nigeria’s most powerful Muslim leaders, the emir of Kano, has expressed optimism that the Boko Haram insurgency which has claimed some 13,000 lives will soon be over.
Emir Sanusi Lamido
“I say help is on the way. Terror must and will be defeated,” Muhammad Sanusi II tweeted late Saturday. “All it requires is the good leaders, uncommon courage and unrelenting determination, and victory will be ours.”
Sanusi, Nigeria’s second most powerful Islamic leader, was presumably referring to the emergence of former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari as the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress in next year’s presidential election.
Buhari will challenge President Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party for the country’s top job on February 14.
“We will together see the end of them and their reign of terror,” Sanusi said.
Sanusi became emir earlier this year after being sacked from his post as the central bank governor, where he was one of the government’s most high-profile critics.
Last month, he voiced support for vigilantes fighting Boko Haram in the volatile northeast, urging others to form civilian militias and questioning the competence of the military to end the five-year-old insurgency.
On November 28, a week after the comments, gunmen with explosives attacked the mosque near Sanusi’s palace during Friday prayers and killed at least 120 people and wounded 270.
The emir was out of the country at the time but many believed he was the target because of his criticisms of the Islamist sect, which says it wants to impose a strict Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north.
THE eemir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi, on Saturday, said the perpetrators of the devastating bomb blast that killed over 120 people and left hundreds injured, planned the attack for two months, though he did not give details to support the claim.
Emir Sanusi Lamido
The emir said this during his visit to the affected Kano Central Mosque, adjacent to his palace.
Sunday Tribune gathered that Sanusi, who was outside the country when the attack occurred, had recently, at the affected mosque, directed civilians to take up arms against the Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram.
The emir also directed, yesterday, that the mosque, which was reportedly blood-stained, be washed and cleaned up.
“From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Sanusi said as he arrived at the mosque straight from the airport, adding that “I have directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue there.
“We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.”
Responding to the deadly attack, the chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Bukola Saraki, described it as sad and shocking, urging President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to take responsibility for security challenges facing the country.
He expressed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s readiness to partner with the government in abating the crisis.
Saraki, who spoke with journalists shortly after he obtained the certificate of clearance from the APC screening committee to contest the 2015 elections into the Senate, urged Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, to join hands with the Federal Government in sending away terrorism from the country.
Also commenting, leader of the National Action Council (NAC) and Owa’Tapa of Itapa Ijesaland, Dr Olapade Agoro, described the killing as “a highly condemnable desecration of a holy place of worship,” just as he described the perpetrators as “intemperate animals simply after blood-letting.”
Residents foil attack on victims’ hospital
Meanwhile, prompt response from residents, on Friday, averted what could have resulted in another catastrophic incident in Kano, as they descended on a female suicide bomber who was reportedly desperate to gain entry into the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, where most victims of the Friday attack were being treated, to detonate bombs.
Sunday Tribune gathered that no fewer than five suicide bombers were rounded up and killed in the city on Friday, as findings showed that determined worshippers at the Kano Central Mosque actually overpowered an insurgent, who was shooting at the confused worshippers after the bomb blast and set him ablaze.
A source told Sunday Tribune that it took the alertness of sympathisers carrying dead bodies and helping injured victims to the hospital to stop the female suicide bomber who pretended as a sympathiser to gain access into the hospital premises.
“She made frantic effort to detonate the improvised explosive device on her, but the people at the vicinity pounced on her, removed the device and in annoyance, set her ablaze,” the source claimed.
•Falling oil prices not responsible for deteriorating economy
•Expect tough times ahead
•Nigeria has done many things wrong in the last four years
By Omoh Gabriel with reports from Mike Ebo, JonaH Nwopoku
Economists, private sector operators and bankers have concluded that the present economic woes bedeviling the country cannot be attributed to the current crash in oil prices but to the lack of monetary and fiscal policy coordination in the last four years.
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala
They thus blamed the Minister of Finance, Governors who insist on spending the excess crude savings and the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for not working together with the Ministry of Finance to formulate policies that would have ensured the economy was insulated from external shocks. They equally said that the crude oil budget benchmark of $73 for 2015 budget is too optimistic on the part of government.
Taking a swipe at the Monetary and Fiscal policy authorities in the last four years, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON, Mr. Mustafa Chike Obi said that the toughening economic situation in Nigeria is not only as a result of falling crude oil prices but also a combination of factors, especially some misguided monetary and fiscal policies in the last four years.
Chike-Obi who stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 4th Annual CBO Capital Investors Conference in Lagos, noted that there is going to be tough period ahead for Nigerian economy and that both government debt and inflation should be expected to rise in the days ahead.
“There is going to be a tough period for Nigeria going forward. There are a number of things that have led to this point. Clearly, everybody is pointing at oil prices but pointing at the oil prices as the reason for our tough times is probably looking at a small part of the problem. We have done many things wrong in the last four years.
“We have had situations where monetary policy authorities made so much noise on how they want to offset what the fiscal authorities are doing, so you hear the CBN saying the fiscal policies are too loose and they want to tighten; and the fiscal authorities saying that the monetary policy is too tight and there is a need to make it loose.
“I have long maintained that this is counterproductive and that the fiscal and monetary authorities should work together to achieve the same goal,” he told the investors who gathered to discuss the place of private equity in Nigeria’s economic future.
Economic implication of declining oil prices
Commenting on the issue, Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Mudal Yusuf said: “The current scenario of sliding oil price is significant and scary. It is at its lowest in four years. For an economy that is 95% dependent on oil for its foreign exchange earnings; and 85% dependent for revenue, this development should be a cause for concern. The single most important vulnerability of the Nigerian economy is its heavy dependence on oil. Crude oil market conditions have profound implications for the Nigerian economy. Current trend with oil price pose major downside risks to some key macroeconomic variables and the general economic conditions. The main impact points include the following: Government Fiscal Operations; Naira Exchange Rate, Capital flow reversals, Stock Market, Foreign Reserves, Inflation, Interest Rate and General operating costs for enterprises.”
According to him: “Declining oil price means reduction in revenue inflows. This has implications for the capacity of government at all levels to meet their statutory obligations. Most states are over 80% dependent on statutory allocations which make the impact of declining oil price very profound. This is even moreso when the culture of big and profligate spending has been entrenched. Already, some states are having issues with the payment of the salaries of their workers. Many have issues with payment to contractors. Major adjustments in government spending (at all levels) is clearly inevitable.
“Exchange rate is a price determined by forces of supply and demand. The strongest factor on the supply side is the forex inflow from crude oil. Therefore, a downward trend in oil price would naturally result in exchange rate depreciation. Exchange rate depreciation would mean new pressures on production and operating costs in the economy which would generate new inflationary pressures. High importation costs will also come with high import duty payment, port charges, VAT as all of these are computed as percentages of import value.
“Trend of oil prices is a major driver of foreign capital flows, especially portfolio flows. This is because the prosperity of the Nigerian economy is perceived to be inextricably tied to the developments in the oil market, and rightly so. For portfolio investors, oil price and exchange rate conditions are major indicators that drive their investment decisions. The impact of such capital flow reversals is often profound in the stock market and the foreign exchange market.
“There is a correlation between stock market performance and the fortunes of the oil market. Nigerian Stock market is well known to be more vibrant when oil prices are high. A major factor in this is the profundity of foreign portfolio investors who currently accounts for about 60 per cent of the market. Their sensitivity to oil price and exchange rate movements is very high.
Furthermore, declining oil price scenario would result in further tightening of monetary policy to preserve macroeconomic stability. The result is high interest rates and superior returns on investments in the money market which could have negative impact on the stock market.
“Declining oil price scenario would reduce the accretion to reserves. Therefore, there is a good chance that the reserves will come under pressure. Besides, the customary disposition of the CBN to defend the naira through increased supply of foreign exchange will take its toll on the robustness of the external reserves. This is even moreso when the excess crude account is on the verge of drying up.
“The likely CBN response to the current scenario is to intensify the tightening of monetary policy. This will further push up interest rates, increase cost of funds to investors in the economy and constrain the access of the banks to investible funds. All these would impact negatively on the bottom line of enterprises in the economy.
“The good news in all of these is the likely moderation of cost of fuel importation. This is well known to be a major burden on the finances of the country. The share of the nation’s resources committed to fuel importation and fuel subsidy is horrendous and perhaps scandalous. It is hoped that declining oil price would moderate this cost.
Looking at the issue, Mr. Egheomhanre Eyieyien, Chief Executive Officer, Pharez Ratings, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered credit risk rating agency, commended the response of the Federal Government so far, concerning the falling oil price, saying that the austerity measures just introduced are inevitable and are welcome.
Eyieyien, who is a senatorial aspirant for Edo Central Senatorial District, however, faulted the proposed crude oil price benchmark of $73 per barrel for 2015, declaring that it is too optimistic. He said: “The challenges we now face on account of the fall in crude oil price in the international market were foreseen as far back as 2003, by no less a person than the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who introduced policies and measures to conserve our foreign exchange earnings and provide a buffer against times such as we are now in.
“Unfortunately, the state governors are still contesting the constitutional propriety, and rightly too, I regret to add, of the Excess Crude Account and the National Sovereign Wealth Fund, which should have been sufficient to weather the crisis.
Even a couple of days ago, there were still calls from the states to disburse $2 billion from the Excess Crude Account so that the governors can ‘fund their projects’ which cannot but be suspicious with the general elections being imminent.
“The austerity measures just introduced are inevitable and are welcome. But can the Federal Government resist the temptation to continue its expansionary fiscal stance with so many outstanding infrastructure projects especially in the run-up to the presidential election?
“I think the new budget crude oil price benchmark of $73 is rather too optimistic. I think the market price could fall below $70 in the near term. However, with the heavy snow storms hitting the western hemisphere, crude oil prices could rally again between December 2014, and March, 2015. “The bottom line: Nigeria needs to go beyond mere sloganeering and actually work effectively at diversifying our nation’s foreign exchange sources. It is time to focus on agricultural exports and the commercial exploitation of our vast solid mineral resources.”
The impact of the falling oil prices may not be felt much on the Nigerian economy, if the government imbibed saving culture, said Mr. Bekuochi Nwawudu, the Director of CBO Capital, a Lagos-based investment advisory and project development.
Nwawudu, while reacting to worries being expressed by some Nigerians about the continued downward trend of global oil price said that Nigeria should save more now for the rainy days.
“We should save more now. The Federal Government should save more with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, while at the state level, there should be matching funds as well as tax breaks,” he said.
This came as the Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Austin Avuru, said there is no need to panic as oil prices will still go up, “but when? I do not know.” Geographies are shifting, but the energy mix as well as the demand and supply equilibrium has not changed much,” he said.
Avuru explained that technology has made it possible to discover more oil in the world to satisfy the global growing demand. According to him, ‘thanks to technology and pricing; there is still enough oil and gas to satisfy the growing demand through 2040. Wind and renewable have failed to be the solution.”
However, Nwawudu cautioned that given the country’s dependence on oil, the fall in prices will affect the foreign exchange and interest rates. ‘’Given oil’s current share, a significant fall in the price will have an immediate impact. This would be felt through foreign exchange rates and interest rates, then falling budgets and government spending,’’ he said.
Speaking on the impact of the price fall on the budget which benchmark is $78, he noted that although the price is still above the benchmark, it is not going to harm funding; only that less ‘excess’ will go into the excess crude account or the NSIA.
He argued that the market view is that the price fall is likely to be short-lived, “so possibly, no cause for alarm.”
“There could be risks to the budget, but at this level, it is more likely that increased borrowing could fill the gap; we have low debt to GDP ratios. We also have solid reserves and these can be used to defend the currency in the near term.
“The question for us though is – why are we worrying? Why is the whole country watching the oil price? Is this how we should be thinking in 2014 and what Nigerian livelihoods and welfare should be exposed to is the hedging model.
According to Mr. Walker Ogogo, Registrar of the Institute of Capital Market, the best way to cushion the effect of the falling oil price is for the government to diversify the economy beyond oil. Though he said that something is already being done along that line, he stated that it might take a little longer for Nigerians to start feeling the effect of measures being put in place by the government.
He said: “There is nothing we can do about the falling oil price because there are so many factors that are playing out there, so our economy will continue because already the growth rate of the Nigerian economy is about six to seven per cent annually. That is likely to continue, but what we are now saying is that our economy should no longer be dependent on oil-related products, we should diversify and I tell you, something is already being done in that direction though we are not feeling the effects perhaps because the cost of operation is very high.”
Continuing Chike-Obi noted that for every economy, there are four things that are very crucial and that Nigeria must pay close attention to those factors if it must make the desired economic progress. “I think that for Nigeria, employment is the most important. We must have a policy that encourages massive employment. A situation where we have 25 per cent of high unemployment and youth unemployment is over 40 per cent is clearly unsustainable.
“The second is low inflation rate. Inflation being low and managed is important. There is also a need for a stable exchange rate. There ought also to be low interest rate to encourage lending to the economy.”
He further said that the authorities must make the right decision by taking the best strategic path to stabilising the exchange rate, adding that pursuing a stable exchange rate in nominal terms as against real terms will spell doom for the real sector of the economy.
”We in this country seem to have decided that maintaining a stable exchange rate in nominal terms was the most important variable. And the exchange rate that is stable in nominal terms, in Nigeria’s case against the dollar, was actually strengthening in real terms and would, in due course, have made sure that no manufacturing industry in Nigeria was sustainable.
“I will give you a very general example. If you can buy a loaf of bread in the US for $1 and you can buy the same in Nigeria at N160, now that is the true exchange rate based on purchasing power parity. Now, if a year later, inflation in Nigeria is 10 per cent and that bread is now costing N176 but still costs $1 in the US, then any rational person in the US will buy the bread for $1 in the US and then sell it in Nigeria for N176, exchange the dollar at N160 and make N16 profit and if that continues for two or three years, all the bread makers in Nigeria will go out of business and we will resort to importing bread because the exchange rate is encouraging it.
”To offset that, all we need to do is to change the exchange rate to N176 by next year, so that the man who buys the bread in the US and sells in Nigeria and sells at N176 and changes it back to the dollar does not make any profit. That is the difference between managing the exchange rate in real terms versus managing it in nominal terms. So, we must change our perception that because the naira moved from N160 to N165, it weakened, it could actually have strengthened. So if we are interested in employment and maintaining our competitive advantage, we must manage exchange rates based not on nominal but in real terms.”
What is important to the economy at this time:
According to the AMCON boss, “The first thing we need is policies that focus on what is most important to us. I believe that given the insecurity and unemployment in Nigeria, we must embrace policies that encourage industrialisation and manufacturing to boost employment generation. That’s the way we can go forward.”
Prediction for the economy
Speaking further, he said given the present economic circumstances, especially in the money market, he expects that, “there is going to be a two-tiered naira scheme where important things trade at official exchange rates and let go of some unimportant things. I think the CBN has started doing that. I think we are going to the point where things like school fees, medical bills and air tickets will be exchanging at a higher rate while things like machinery, equipment will be exchanging at the official exchange rate.
“We are also going to see inflation increasing. I think we can tolerate inflation of up to 10 to 12%. There is probably going to be more debt. The Nigerian public debt to GDP is between 10 to 12% and that is too low. The US has a public debt to equity, they say is 60%, but they are not telling the truth. The guarantees of the US Government to 37 agencies amount to 90% of their GDP, so if you add guarantees and actual debts in the US, the public debt to GDP is about 150%.
“And that is a developed country with roads, power, water, schools, trains, airports in almost every city and still they think they need public debt of 150% but we in our wisdom, we are 12% with very little guarantee from the FG. The FG must engage massively on a guarantee scheme. I suggest that there should be a federal guarantee agency and that when the government decides its priorities, that agency should decide how the guarantee in that sector will work.
“If we want to build roads for example, banks should be able to lend to the roads through a guarantee scheme. The lending should be guaranteed by the Federal Government in some form. I think we must use the Federal Government balance sheet much more efficiently. 12 per cent will not do it. No country has ever developed with 12 per cent public debt to GDP and no country ever will.”
After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices.
Sanusi and Jonathan
After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices. Pres. Goodluck Jonathan And Emir Sanusi in A handshake State House Photo
Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was fired by the president in February after accusing the government of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.
The government denied the claim, and in turn, accused Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness”.
After leaving office, Mr. Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano in June, assuming one of the most powerful traditional stools in Nigeria.
His appointment by Kano State’s Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, a member opposition All Progressives Congress, was opposed by the presidency which ordered the emir’s office blockaded for days.
The emir reportedly initiated peace moves, and the two men met for the first time in July during the breaking of the Muslim fast, a yearly routine in which the president meets top government officials who are Muslims and other prominent Islamic leaders in the country.
Our sources say Thursday’s meeting was essentially for reconciliation between the two sides.
The emir was accompanied to the meeting by all senior members of the Kano Emirate council, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.
Group photograph of Presidnt Jonathan, VP Sambo , Emir Sanusi and members of the Kano Emirate Council in Abuja today State House Photo
Officials at the meeting say the president urged peace, and announced that he had nothing against the emir and that he had forgotten everything that happened.
In return, Mr. Sanusi also preached peace saying he too had let go of the past.
The president and the emir later met privately for about 15 minutes, according to our sources.
Mr. Sanusi and his entourage left for Kano shortly after, and were on their way to the Abuja airport at the time of this report. Emir Mohammed Sanusi ii arriving the Aso Rock Villa for a reconciliation meeting with Pres. goodluck Jonathan State House
The Federal Government, yesterday, said it was still in doubt of the sincerity of the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to make peace with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Sanusi and Jonathan
Consequently, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, yesterday, told the National Industrial Court, NIC, sitting in Abuja that he was determined to pursue the legal action that was instituted against President Jonathan by the former CBN governor to its logical conclusion.
The AGF made this position of the government known to the court shortly after Sanusi who is now the Emir of Kano, notified the President of the NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, of his decision to withdraw the suit challenging the powers of President Jonathan to suspend him from office as governor of the apex bank without recourse to the National Assembly.
Sanusi had in his suit, contended that only a two-third majority vote from the Senate could effectively oust a CBN governor from office, irrespective of any allegation levelled against the occupant of such position.
Though the case was originally filed before the Abuja Division of the Federal Court, it was subsequently transferred to the NIC by trial Justice Gabriel Kolawole who declined jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Justice Kolawole in a judgment on May 20, relied on section 24(3) of the NIC Act 2006, to transfer the case on the basis that the issue bothered on employer/employee relationship.
Meantime, at the resumed sitting on the matter yesterday, Sanusi, who was represented by three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, told the court that he had already filed a notice to discontinue further proceeding on the suit
Addressing the court through his lead counsel Mr. Kola Awodehin, SAN, the emir of Kano, stressed that he had already served both President Jonathan and the AGF, who are the 1st and 2nd defendants in the matter, with copies of the said notice of discontinuance. ”Our application is supported by Order 19 rule 17 of the NIC rules, and my Lord, all the parties have been duly served”, Awodehin added.
However, before Awodehin could conclude his submission, counsel to the AGF, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the court that although he would not object to Sanusi’s withdrawal application, he said his client, sceptic about the genuine intention of the plaintiff, was determined to continue with the matter.
Ozekhome, contended that Sanusi ought to have shown his sincerity by also withdrawing the appeal he lodged before the appeal court in Abuja which is challenging the jurisdiction of the NIC to adjudicate on the dispute between him and President Jonathan.
”My lord, as we speak today, that appeal is still pending. In fact, the plaintiff equally has another application before Justice Kolawole wherein he is seeking the stay of execution of the federal high court judgement pending the determination of his pending appeal”, Ozekhome added.
He told the court that the high court has already issued the AGF a notice to come and compile records for onward transmission to the court of appeal.
”In view of these developments, the AGF has asked me to wait for further instruction and it is that instruction that I am waiting for now”, Ozehkome told the court.
He insisted that unless Sanusi embarked on a wholistic withdrawal of all the pending legal actions he filed against the government in relation to his suspension from office, the AGF would have no option than to go ahead with the case.
Besides, Ozehkome, informed the court that the AGF has also gone before the appeal court to challenge the powers of Justice Kolawole to transfer the case to the NIC after he had held that he lacked jurisdiction to entertain Sanusi’s suit
A week after the emergence of the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the aggrieved children of the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has finally paid homage to the new Emir during the weekend.
Since Sanusi emerged the new Emir, Sanusi Lamido Bayero who felt shortchanged has refused to pay homage despite pressure from elders of Kano.
The appointment of the former CNB governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi resulted in anger and protest among the youths who felt the appointment was politicized, and the first son of Bayero who believed that the odds favoured him and got disappointed in succeeding his later father.
The armed security men placed the situation under control and siege the palace for a couple of days while the new Emir was moved to the State Government House.
During the protest and days Sanusi spent in the government house, the late children of Bayero stayed away, they were also absent on the day the new emir returned to the palace despite elders intervention who later made excuse on their behalf that they were still mourning their father.
The home paid on Sunday by the aggrieved children is an indication that the dispute is finally coming to an end.
Though the tradition says the emir does not wait to receive visitors, but tradition was waved on Sunday to receive the children of the late Emir, possibly to bridge the gap of indifference.
The children of the late Emir who visited Sanusi include Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, District Head of Dala; Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, District Head of Nasarawa, Alhaji Mahmud Ado Bayero, District Head of Fagge, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Bayero, District Head of Sumaila and Alhaji Aliyu Ado Bayero, District Head of Kunchi.
During the visit last Saturday, our correspondent learned that the Galadiman Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim, was also at the palace to pay homage to the emir.
Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero and Ciroma of Kano initially thought to be the main contender was not there with his siblings but palace sources said he was outside the state for medical treatment.
Speaking with newsmen, Alhaji Sanusi Bayero urged the people of Kano to embrace peace.
He said “We are very much grateful with the outpouring, the concerns that the public has shown us over the demised of the Emir. We are very grateful for their sympathies and prayers that his soul may rest in peace.
“Also we want to express our gratitude for all the show of support after his death and the love they have shown to all of us his descendants. We pray that Allah will continue to support our people, keep the peace in our community and help us to forge ahead in this critical time we are going through. We thank you all and wish them peace,” he said.
Meanwhile a delegation of Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, was at the palace yesterday to pay homage to the new emir.
The Northern Elders’ Forum has condemned alleged interference by the Presidency with the enthronement of the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir of Kano.
The forum said it would be wrong for the Presidency to interfere in an ethno-religious tradition that is over 1000 years old.
Sanusi had succeeded Ado Bayero who died on June 6 at the age of 84 years after 50 years on the throne.
The Deputy National Chairman, NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo, alleged that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration had been hard on its critics and often rejected advice given to it. He said the President was being misled by his advisers.
He said, “Such is happening in Kano after somebody who was supposed to be the government’s enemy was chosen by the traditional people to be their emir. I saw the government reacting to a purely traditional and religious matter.
“He is a Christian president but people are pushing him to go and stop a religious and traditional leader. I don’t think they know the meaning of an emir. An emir is both like a pope; like an archbishop and, at the same time, he has traditional powers.
“He is not like a chief in Tiv or Yorubaland or Igboland; this is the head of Islam in Kano. Kano has a history that dates back to about 1000 to 2000 years; and this people can trace their traditional rulers. How will the government stop them?”
The forum also backed the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, over his stance on the insurgency by the terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the North-East.
The Presidency and the Defence Headquarters had engaged the governor in a war of words over the cause of the insurgency and superiority of firepower between the military and the insurgents.
Unongo said, “There are so many things happening in this country that I don’t understand anymore. I don t know if the Federal Government is interested in people’s ideas. The government gives the impression that it knows everything and how to solve problems. And what it needs is for everybody to shut up.”
“I enjoin Muslims to draw my attention to whatever wrong I have committed, for I know that to err is human, but to forgive is God’s”
By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News
The new Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who could not operate from his palace due to the protest that greeted his emergence, returned to the palace yesterday after seven days.
Sanusi who was appointed by the Kano State Government was greeted by the mammoth crowed of well wishers, Royal guards and heavily armed policemen who escorted him into the palace.
Policemen ended their five days siege on the palace on Thursday night.
Though after days, Police boss have refused to explain to the people of Kano and Nigeria why they took over the new Emir’s place.
The new emir left the Government’s house, from where he has been operating at about 3.3opm after he led the Juma’at prayer at the state House.
The Emir, also while at the palace, conducted late evening prayers (Asr prayer) inside the palace mosque and was welcomed by hundreds of jubilant.
Sanusi, covered in white, drove into the palace in his Emir official car though the new gate that was erected for him according to tradition.
There were gunshots fired as he entered. an activity carried out by the palace guard as an honour which according to them, mark a new beginning.
While conducting sermon on Friday, the emir warned all Muslims and urge them to fear God in whatever they do, saying that ”we can get it right” through the fear for Allah.
He promised to maintain transparency, treat everyone as equal, fairness and would exhibit high sense of responsibility.
Sanusi during his sermon admitted that he was not the best among the three candidates but God chose him instead, adding that ”God gives power to whom he wants”
He added “I enjoin Muslims to draw my attention to whatever wrong I have committed, for I know that to err is human, but to forgive is God’s”
He advised Muslims to always ask for his intervention during times of difficulties and challenges.
The police on Thursday ended their four-day siege to the palatial official residence of the traditional ruler of Kano Emirate.
The police had on Monday deployed armed officers and men in the palace following a series of protests by some youths who kicked against the appointment of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, as the new Emir of Kano.
Rabiu Kwankwaso
The PUNCH gathered on Thursday that following the end of the siege, preparations were being put in place to ensure that Sanusi, who had been ruling Kano from the state Government House since Monday, relocated to the palace.
Confirming the development, the Director of Press and Public Relations to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Baba Dantiye, told one of our correspondents on the telephone, that Sanusi would move into the place within the next few days.
“I just got the information that the police have left the palace. Preparations will now start to ensure that the emir relocates to the palace,” he said.
But Dantiye noted that since policemen had also been withdrawn from the Government House, Kano youths had taken over the responsibility of guarding the place.
“Patriotic young men are guarding the Government House now as a result of the withdrawal of policemen by the federal authorities,” Dantiye wrote in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday.
Sanusi is expected to lead the 7th day Fidau prayers for the late Emir, Ado Bayero, on Friday (today) by 12 noon.
It was gathered that the new traditional ruler will subsequently lead Muslim faithful in Kano during the Friday Jumat prayers.
The new Emir on Thursday received the leader of Tijjaniyya sect in Africa, Khalifa Sheikh Isiyaka Rabi’u, at the Government House.
According to a message on Dantiye’s Facebook page, Rabi’u offered prayers to God to grant the new emir protection and wisdom to rule over his people.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the House of Representatives disagreed on Thursday over the allegation by Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that President Goodluck Jonathan was behind the crisis that followed the appointment of Mallam Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
Kwankwaso, who also said Jonathan had no business in the appointment of Sanusi as an emir, said it was worrisome that he (President) was meddling in the affairs of Kano State.
The governor had spoken during an interview with a cross-section of journalists on Tuesday. Excerpt of the interview was posted on the Twitter handle of Kwankwaso and the Facebook page of his Director of Press and Public Realations, Baba Dantiye.
Kwankwaso had called on Nigerians and the international community to hold Jonathan liable if anything ontoward happened to him, his family and the people of his state.
“I have told my friends, and people of Kano, other Nigerians and indeed the international community to hold Jonathan responsible for whatever happens to Kwankwaso, his family or even the people of Kano State,” he had stated on Wednesday.
But, while the PDP caucus in the House said the governor was “playing politics” by making such an allegation, the APC caucus argued that the governor’s allegation called for an investigation.
The leaders of the caucuses spoke exclusively in separate telephone interviews with The PUNCH in Abuja.
The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor, who spoke on behalf of the PDP caucus, described Kwankwaso’s allegation as “wild and without proof.”
Ogor noted that it was unfair of the governor to make such an “unsubstantiated allegation” in an already heated political environment.
He added, “There is nothing the PDP-led Federal Government has done to show that it is responsible for any crisis in Kano.
“He who alleges must prove. Let him bring his proof to the public and substantiate the allegation.
“This attempt to play politics with every issue just to score cheap political points is unnecessary.
According to him, were Kwankwaso to have facts, he should have gone to the police and other security agencies to make a report.
“If he has facts, let him got to the police and other security agencies to make his case. It is the responsibility of the security agencies to take it up from there,” Ogor added.
However, the Minority Leader of the House and APC caucus leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, disputed Ogor’s position that the APC governor was merely playing politics.
Gbajabiamila argued that anybody raising such an allegation as did Kwankwaso must have gathered substantial evidence.
Rather than dismissing the allegation as political, he advised the PDP-led government to investigate it.
Gbajabiamila said, “Any allegation that insinuates death threat must be taken seriously.
“It is even more serious when the allegation is against the Presidency.
“We recall that former President Obasanjo once told the nation that this administration had some persons marked for death.
“This allegation by the Kano governor is something similar to what Obasanjo raised; so, it is not political at all.
“I am not saying that it is true (allegation), but it should be taken very seriously.
“I want to give the Presidency the benefit of the doubt and only hope that the allegation is not correct.
“I have not known Kwankwaso to make frivolous statements before; it is a reason to take his allegation seriously.”
Ex- Niger Delta militant and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) Mujahid Asari Dokubo revealed to his fans how he sees the new Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, describing him as a dog.
He posted a picture on his Facebook page with a caption “This is how i see Sanusi Lamido Sanusi”
The picture was a dog dressed like an Emir, completely in white. Asari asked, ”So a dog can become an Emir? Congratulations Rabiu Kwankwaso.”
See photo below
Asari who didn’t stop at his Facebook page, took to his twitter handled. While he congratulated the All Progressives Congress, APC, on their new Emir, he said he was wondering if the late Emir died a natural death, adding that APC people are very desperate.
APC congratulations on your new Emir,Emir of kano/APC .. These APC peeps are so desperate I doubt if the emir had this rest naturally!
Asari-Dokubo is one of the many forces supporting President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term. He has threatened mayhem if Jonathan failed to secure a second term ticket in the 2015 presidential election.
Asari is one of those who believes that Sanusi Lamido, the new Emir of Kano could have a hand in the current insurgency in the country.
He has also challenged the Governor of Borno State, Kasim Shettima, accusing him of orchestrating the kidnap of the Chibok Girls. Asari has been rallying against the believe that the more than 200 girls who were kidnapped from their hostels on February 14th is real. The Ex militant had earlier called on Shettima to bring back the girls, saying it was a plan to drag the name of the President to the mud.
A former Head of State, who is also a national leader of the All Progressives Party, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) on Monday wrote the new Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, asking the monarch to support the Federal Government’s war against terrorism in the country.
Buhari
Buhari, in a congratulatory letter he personally signed and a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Kaduna, urged the new emir to bring to bear his wealth of experience in assisting the economic revival of the state and the country as a whole.
The former military leader, who was also a presidential candidate of the defunct Congress of Progressive Change in the 2011 presidential election, reminded the former CBN boss to fear God and to treat the people of Kano with justice and fairness, saying his choice as the emir was purely an act of God.
Buhari said, “You should cultivate all and exclude none. After attending the burial of the late emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, I am renewing my condolences to the new emir, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the people of Kano and the country on the death of Alhaji Ado Bayero.
“I am forwarding my congratulations to you for assuming the office of emir of this historic land, a position once occupied by great historical figures such as Muhammadu Rumfa, Ibrahim Dabo, Abdullahi Bayero and Muhammadu Sanusi. I hope you will be a worthy successor to those great men.”
KANO — The Police yesterday took over the Emir’s Palace in Kano, following continuation of the protest that greeted the announcement of former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as successor to late Ado Bayero, who died last Friday.
The ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, however, accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of inciting violence in an attempt to destabilise the state. The party urged the Kano State Attorney-General to prosecute all PDP officials allegedly involved in the act. The PDP, however, yesterday congratulated Sanusi as the new Kano emir.
The protests notwithstanding, the new Emir was, yesterday, presented with his appointment letter and staff of office by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Irate youths opposed to the appointment of Sanusi as the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano by Governor Kwankwaso took to the streets again, yesterday, forcing the closure of private and public schools. The youths in their hundreds seized the Emir’s Palace Road, made bonfires at strategic points on the highway, while motorists were forced to divert to other roads. The protesting youths, clutching tree branches kept chanting “bamuayi”.
A contingent of anti-riot policemen was drafted to the palace to dislodge the protesters. The palace was then placed under security cover as only female visitors were allowed to enter into the centuries-old palace. This has now cut short the week-long mourning of the late Emir.
A security source in Kano told Vanguard that “the measure adopted by the Police was to ensure that the palace was not destroyed and also to keep the artefacts in the palace intact”. The source said: “Our presence here would certainly check protesters, who have used the palace as rallying point for two days running now”.
In the meantime, business activities continued unhindered at major centres like Kasuwan Kwari, Kasuwan Singer and Kurmi market, while roadside traders along the road leading to Government House returned to business following restoration of normalcy by the police.
A number of schools remained shut in the city, while adequate security was provided for banks to operate.
In Sabon Gari, a predominantly Christian quarters, business activities suffered hiccups as most shop owners chose to remain at home to avoid being victims of looters.
Commenting on the development, Police Public Relations Officer in Kano, ASP Magaji Musa Majia said: “Yes, we have some security challenges at hand but we have adopted counter measures to address the problem”.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and enjoined them to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestation.
APC accuses PDP of inciting violence in Kano
Meanwhile, APC has accused the PDP of inciting the violence that followed the announcement of Alhaji Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano.
In a statement issued in Lagos, yesterday, by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the statement issued by PDP’s Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, congratulating one of the contenders long before the Kano State Government announced the new Emir was premeditated and calibrated to incite violence.
It wondered why a ruling party, which has access to Kano or any state government, would rush to the media to congratulate a contender who had not been selected, without even contacting the selecting authority to ensure the veracity of whatever news it may have heard.
“What is so urgent about congratulating the new Emir that could not have waited for a few hours for the appropriate authority to make an official announcement”, APC queried.
The party said when the announcement was eventually made and the contender who had already been congratulated lost out, it was only natural that his supporters would feel shortchanged.
“It is therefore obvious that the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary went out of their way to stoke the fire of violence in Kano.
“Since we live in a country which is being governed by the rule of law, the best option open to the Kano State government is for the State Attorney-General to immediately initiate criminal proceedings against PDP and its officials for incitement. Whatever explanations they have for their premeditated actions, they should reserve for their defence in court ,” APC said.
Sanusi gets appointment letter, staff of office
Kano State Government has, meantime, issued appointment letter and presented staff of office to the new emir. The presentation which was held at the Government House, Kano was attended by top government officials, stalwarts of APC, opinion leaders, and business moguls in the city.
No members of the late Bayero’s family, however, attended the colourful ceremony, and no explanation was given for their absence.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Kwankwaso disclosed that the new emir’s wealth of experience and his deep-rooted connection with the ruling house gave him an edge for the exalted seat.
Kwankwaso dismissed insinuations that the new emir’s appointment was influenced by political leaning , stressing that “the new emir was appointed on merit.”
He disclosed that the former CBN Governor made the shortlist of qualified contenders submitted to government for consideration, maintaining that he was never smuggled into the list contrary to insinuation in the social circle.
The governor said: “I must clarify that the six contenders to the throne are good friends and it remains a statement of fact that only one would emerge”.
Kwankwaso, therefore, enjoined the new emir to adopt the culture of inclusion to solidify the existing unity among the ruling class, as he disclosed that Government has built an estate for the family of late Bayero at Sharada area of the municipality.
He further revealed that Government would soon embark on the rehabilitation of the palace, preparatory to the resumption of the new emir.
In his acceptance speech, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was full of praises to God for making him the 57th Emir of Kano and the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano emirate.
The highly elated emir revealed that he enjoyed the best support from members of the ruling House, stressing that there is no rift between him and other princes and princesses in the ruling House.
He said: “I was close to the late emir than I was to my late father. My first wife of 20 years is Bayero’s daughter. I grew up under his care and shared bed with Turakin Kano, Nasiru Ado Bayero for 10 years”.
He appealed to his subjects to remain calm and admonished them not to allow external forces to destroy their home for no reason.
All the four kingmakers who were present during the official presentation of staff of office and other traditional rulers bowed before the new emir in his recognition and acceptance as the traditional leader of Kano emirate.
PDP congratulates Sanusi
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the new Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on his inauguration, saying it will
not play politics with the revered traditional institution.
The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh said it expected the new emir to be non-partisan, noting that his status in society has changed.
The party in the statement issued late yesterday, said the party “has an unflinching reverence for the traditional institution and in that regard extends the same reverence it had for the late Emir to Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.”
Buhari:
Also, General Muhammadu Buhari has urged the new emir to serve in the knowledge that he was elevated by God and not man.”You should cultivate all and exclude none,” Buhari said in a statement yesterday.
Oshiomhole congratulates Sanusi
Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has congratulated Alhaji Sanusi.
In a letter, the Governor said: “It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the good people and Government of Edo State, to congratulate Your Royal Highness on your well-deserved appointment as the 57th Emir of Kano.
“Your Royal Highness, I have no doubt in my mind that your appointment to this esteemed position of Emir of Kano Emirate is ordained by Almighty Allah.”
It is my sincere prayer that your reign will be long and be for the good of all Nigerians, particularly in serving as a vessel through which the much-needed socio-economic upliftment, mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence amongt Nigerians, within and beyond the Kano Emirate will be sustained.
President Goodluck Jonathan has shelved his planned trip to Kano following the emergence of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as emir.
The police yesterday sealed off the palace, fueling reports of a plot by the Federal Government to stop Sanusi from ascending the throne.
Sanusi got his letter of appointment and staff of office from Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso at Government House yesterday.
The President was expected to pay a condolence visit to Kano yesterday, but the trip, sources said, was cancelled on Sunday night following Sanusi’s emergence.
A source said: “The President wanted to be in Kano on Monday (yesterday) but the emergence of Sanusi and the protests that accompanied it made the President to stay away from any controversy.
“I think the President may find a more auspicious time to be in Kano. He loves the people of the state; he shares their pain on the loss of the late emir.”
It was gathered that the protest that greeted Sanusi’s choice on Sunday was instigated.
A source said one of the contestants for the stool may go to court to challenge Sanusi’s emergence. Yesterday, Sanusi waved the olive branch, urging his fellow contestants to join hands with him in running the emirate.
Some forces are pushing for the maintenance of the status quo once the dispute over the stool is in court to deny Sanusi access to the palace.
The source said: “The police have deployed some of their men in the palace to protect it for security reasons. These policemen were drafted to the palace on Sunday night after the emergence of the new Emir.
“The police said they were acting on intelligence report including the invasion of the Emir’s personal room in the palace by some people who stole some items. They said they are investigating the theft.
“There is however a strong suspicion that the policemen were brought to the place to stop Sanusi from having access to the palace following protests.
“They are under stern instruction not to allow any person, including the new Emir, from entering the palace until all issues surrounding the appointment are resolved.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “The police might have got wind of plans to go to court by some people to stop the installation of Sanusi.
“They said they expect all stakeholders to stick to the status quo.”
Findings also revealed that a tight security ring had been woven around the four kingmakers, Alhaji Yusuf Nabani (Madakin Kano); Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi (Makaman Kano); Alhaji Bello Tuta (Sarki Dawaki Mai-Tuta); and Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan (Sarki Bai).
Another source added: “Some riot policemen have been provided for the kingmakers to protect them from any harm.
“Virtually everyone is besieging the kingmakers to know what really transpired at their session on Saturday and Sunday.
“So, these kingmakers are central to the appointment of a new Emir and aftermath in Kano. This is why they are being protected.”
The plot to stop Sanusi’s installation is believed to have been hatched by some aggrieved princes and bigwigs in Kano.
A third source added: “Those aggrieved have perfected their papers which they would file a court in Kano any moment from now.”
Youths barricaded the gate of the Palace and some streets leading the to the turbaning of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano yesterday.
Fierce-looking soldiers and riot policemen have been drafted to prevent the irate mob from vandalising the Palace.
Some youths said they have been there since Sunday.
“We have been sleeping here for the past two days since the announcement of Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir by Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s government”, they said.
Security men blocked the gate leading to the Palace with their vehicles to prevent the protesters from entering.
Contacted on telephone, Kano State Commissioner of Police Adenrele Shinaba said: “Ours is to take control of security and that is what we are doing.”
The family of the late Emir Ado Bayero is still living inside the Palace contrary to reports that they have been relocated.
Our reporter learnt that four people may have died and several others injured during a clash between Sanusi’s supporters and those who opposed his appointment.
Both groups made bon fires on the road leading to the Emir’s palace and Kofar Nasarawa. The police put out the fire and dispersed the crowd. But they regrouped for another free-for-all.
The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party has said it made an innocent mistake when it issued a congratulatory statement on Sunday, in which it hailed the ‘appointment’ of Mallam Sanusi Ado Bayero, the eldest son of the late Emir, Ado Bayero as the next emir of Kano.
PDP
The party was reacting to a statement issued by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in which he (Mohammed) was calling for the prosecution of the spokesperson of the ruling party, Chief Olisa Metuh because of the hurriedly made congratulatory message.
Mohammed said the statement was aimed at causing crisis in Kano.
While replying Mohammed, Metuh said in a statement in Abuja on Monday, that Mohammed’s statement was inciting and misleading .
He said Mohammed was also blackmailing him and the ruling party.
Metuh said, “We are indeed shocked by this statement and wonder what sort of dirty individual that could be so unprofessional, unprincipled and unethical.
“Indeed, it appears that Lai Mohammed has gone delusional and requires urgent medical attention. Has he become a low life who can go to any extent to score a cheap political point?
“It is public knowledge that we made an innocent mistake but immediately withdrew it and tendered an unreserved apology well before the official announcement of the new emir was made.”
Metuh said that the new Emir, Mallam Sanusi Lamido also tweeted at about 8.59 am that same Sunday that Alhaji Lamido Ado Bayero had emerged as the new emir, wondering why Mohammed did not ask questions on this.
He also alleged that some electronic and print media organizations ‘broke’ the news of the emergence of Ado Bayero as emir upon which prominent Nigerians issued statements congratulating him.
Meanwhile, the party has yet to officially congratulate the new emir since his name was announced on Sunday.
Before now, the PDP has alleged that Sanusi, when he was suspended as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was a sympathizer of the APC.
The party went further to allege that the former CBN governor gave contracts to some bigwigs in the party.
The forum said it would be wrong for the Presidency to interfere in an ethno-religious tradition that is over 1000 years old.
Sanusi who was appointed by the Kano State Government was greeted by the mammoth crowed of well wishers, Royal guards and heavily armed policemen who escorted him into the palace.
