Feelers from the Kano Emirate Council indicate that Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Governor, Lamido Sanusi, is showing top shelf desperation for Emir of Kano stool. While there have been speculations that Sanusi could one day run for the Presidency or Governorship of Kano, Pointblanknews.com checks reveal that the CBN boss has earmarked hundreds of millons of naira to actualize his dream.
Sources say he has budgeted no less than N500 million for the ‘project’. This will take care off buying off members of the council, some low class traditional rulers, opinion leaders, youths, and even some aspirants.
Even though a couple of influential indigenes, ( including the current Emir’s sons), are eyeing the stool as well, Sanusi who has a huge financial war chest have over spent them all even when the current Emir, Ado Bayero is still alive.
His curious desperation is fuelling speculations about his motive. While some within the Emirate council are of the view he desires the stool because he would wield unending influence in the north, others contend that Sanusi just want to mount the stool in honor of his grandfather, Emir Sanusi, who was dethroned and barnished decades ago.
Pointblanknews.com checks revealed that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who returned recently from London where he went for medical checkup, is not happy with a number of Chiefs in his Emirate who are being accused of collecting “gifts” from the Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to influence his ambition of succeeding Ado Bayero upon his death.
Pointblanknews.com sources at the palace hinted that the Emir’s trip to London generated a lot of rumours with divided speculations of the Emir’s health condition. While many believed that Emir Bayero was in coma, others had believed that the Kano Royal Father had died in a London hospital.
However, the Emir’s surprised return to Kano last Thursday dispelled all the rumours as thousands of his supporters and Palace Guards welcomed him amidts fanfare.
According to an impecabble source at the Emir’s Palace, there is serious power play within the Kano emirate as so many people including the sons of the Emir have started showing interest in his stool, “from what is going on here in the Palace, I want to tell you that a lot of them (in the Emirate Council) want the Sarki dead so that they can occupy the seat, but I pray that Allah will keep him alife. Even his own sons are interested and they have started lobbying the king makers to dance to their various tunes.
“Most of them have started bribing their way. I know of a number of those interested in the Emir’s seat who have distributed money to the king makers to favour their candidate. The atmosphere within the Emirate Council is tensed up even upon the Sarki’s reurn and it will take Allah’s intervention for things to come back to nomalcy.”
Pointblanknews.com also learnt that Sanusi who was installed as Majen Kano by Emir Bayero is desperately interested in the stool of the Emir of Kano. It was learnt from a reliable source that the CBN governor, in a bid to actualize his dream, has doled out billions of Naira to king makers so as to protect his interest and appoint him Ado Bayero’s successor. In fact, a source revealed that each of those that matters within the Emirate Council received a “gift” of N1 million as an inducement to pursue and protect the banker’s interest.
“Let me tell you without fear or contradiction that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi can do everything possible to ensure that he becomes the next Emir of Kano. Many have touted him for the post of President and or Governor after his tenure at the CBN, but none of those positions entice him. For the Sanusi that I know, his one and only ambition is to occupy the seat of the Emir of Kano and he is tirelessly and courageously working hard to actualize that ambition,” a close associate of Sanusi Lamido told Pointblanknews.com, while affirmaing that the CBN boss has undying love for the traditional institution and Islam.
Pointblanknews.com also gathered that the CBN Governor has already settled his scores with Kano state Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso who would have been a stumbling block to his ambition.
Kwankwaso and Sanusi were at daggers drawn during the former’s first-term as Governor of Kano state. At that time, the CBN governor, reputed for his radical criticism of Kwankwaso’s policy incured the wrath of Kwankwaso who had sworn to frustrate all his interest.
“But I can assure you that the two leaders have settled their differences. Both of them are anxious to ensure that Kano regains its lost glory and retain its status as the economic nerve centre of the North. I can confirm to you that His Excellency, Governor Kwankwaso and the CBN Governor are enjoying a very cordial relationship.”our source said.
Meanwhile, social critics and watchers of the unfolding scenario at Kano Emirate Council are of the view that the trouble of Emir Bayero’s successor remains a time-bomb capable of wreaking havoc upon explosion.