Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has explained that his decision to create four new emirates in the state is to take the emirate to the next level.
The Kano State House of Assembly on Wednesday initiated and passed a bill splitting the Kano Emirate into five, which the Governor signed into law the same day.
Many believed Mr Ganduje created the new emirates to reduce the power and influence of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Lamido Sanusi the second over political differences.
But peaking to State House correspondents in Abuja, Mr Ganduje said those condemning the decision “are entitled to their own opinion but we are taking Kano to the next level and we need the active participation of the traditional institution, especially in the areas of education, security and agriculture”.
He said the emirate was balkanised because Kano State needed to make its traditional institution more effective, stressing that the only permanent thing is change which is often greeted with resistance.
“So, it is not vendetta, I have nothing against Emir Lamido Sanusi. In fact, he is supposed to be reporting to the local government chairman, according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is the local government chairman that should discuss issues with him, not the Governor,” he said.
Ganduje also said the people of Kano were celebrating the decision, adding that he would ensure that the new emirate councils were useful in terms of developing Kano State.
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