PDP warns Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, against partisan politics

Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state formally presenting letter of appointment to the new Emir of Kano, His Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi at Africa House, Government House, Kano, today, Monday. Photo: Govt. House, Kano. 9/6/2014

The governing ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has congratulated the new emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and admonished him to emulate his predecessor by not leaning towards any political party.
The party said it expects the new Emir to remain non-partisan deserving of the exalted and revered office.
The party’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement issued Monday night by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh.
It came more than 24 hours after the party committed a huge blunder by rushing to congratulate Mr. Sanusi’s rival, Sanusi Ado Bayero, even when official announcement of the chosen candidate had not been made.
Apparently terribly embarrassed, the party hurriedly withdrew the statement after it became clear that Mr. Ado Bayero had lost to Mr. Sanusi.
In its statement Monday night, the party urged the new monarch  to be non-partisan.
It advised the traditional ruler not to consider himself an “emir of any political party but that of the entire people of the Kano Emirate”.
“The PDP holds the office of the Emir of Kano in very high esteem. We therefore give the new Emir our prayers and urge him to ensure that the sanctity of the throne and the traditional institution are absolutely guarded and preserved.”
The selection of Mr. Sanusi as the new emir of the powerful Kano emirate is widely considered a triumph of the opposition All Progressives Congress over the ruling PDP.
By congratulating his major contender as victor hours before an official announcement was made, the presidency and the PDP are believed to have been opposed to Mr. Sanusi’s emergence as Kano emir.  The party however later withdrew the congratulatory message blaming it on an error by an aide to Mr. Metuh.
Some chieftains of the APC had also poured into Kano on Saturday and Sunday after reportedly receiving intelligence that some northern traditional rulers were, at the behest of the PDP and President Jonathan, putting pressure on the kingmakers and Governor Rabiu Kwankawaso to overlook Mr. Sanusi and appoint his rival to the coveted throne.
The presidency apparently felt humiliated that the former banker prevailed, analysts say.
Before his emergence as Emir, Mr. Sanusi had a running battle with the Goodluck Jonathan administration, with the president controversially suspending him as Governor of the Central Bank.
His passport was also seized by security agencies and prevented from travelling out of the country.
While the government claimed it acted based on allegations of graft against the ex-CBN chief, many Nigerians believe he was persecuted for exposing the corruption in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
Read the full congratulatory message by the PDP below.

June 9, 2014
Press Statement
PDP Congratulates Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
Says It Will Not Play Politics With The Traditional Institution
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.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday 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.”
It however said it expects the new Emir to remain non-partisan deserving of the exalted and revered office, like his predecessor.
“The PDP holds the office of the Emir of Kano in very high esteem. We therefore  give the new Emir our prayers and urge him to ensure that the sanctity of the throne and the traditional institution are absolutely guarded and preserved.
“We are very much aware that his status has changed and we pray the Almighty Allah, who alone confers authority, to grant him the wisdom and good health to lead his people to peace and prosperity.
Calling for calm in Kano, the PDP urged the new Emir to take steps to unite his people and note that he is not the emir of any political party but that of the entire people of the Kano Emirate.
Signed:
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary