The Nigerian Army has clarified its role in the ongoing emirship tussle in Kano State, denying involvement in the crisis and enforcement of any court orders.
According to The PUNCH, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, stated that the Army’s actions were aimed at preventing a breakdown of law and order, and that they would only intervene if the police could no longer handle the security situation.
Onyema said, “They have only taken proactive steps to checkmate any possible breakdown or breach of the security that may be occasioned by the Kano Emirship tussle.
“The issue of paramount concern to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies is the prevention of the breakdown of law and order in the state, which could be taken advantage of by adversarial non-state actors.”
He noted that the military would wade into the matter when the police could no longer handle the security situation in the state.
“All the Army is doing at this stage is to monitor the situation as it unfolds and be on standby in the event of any escalation that could threaten the security of the state and the region in general,” he added.
The emirate tussle began when Aminu Ado-Bayero was dethroned on Thursday by the governor of the state, Abba Yusuf, and Muhammadu Sanusi II was reappointed as the 16th Emir of Kano on Friday.
Ado-Bayero was deposed following the passage of the Kano State Emirate Councils Amendment Bill by the House of Assembly which the governor accented to.
Also, the additional four emirate councils created under the immediate-past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje were abolished and the monarchs were dethroned.
The emirate tussle began when Aminu Ado-Bayero was dethroned and Muhammadu Sanusi II was reappointed as the 16th Emir of Kano, leading to tensions and a Federal High Court order restraining the Kano State Government from reinstating Sanusi.
