Why Sanusi is operating outside Kano Emir’s palace

The new Emir of Kano, His Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

“Traditionally, a new emir does not even go into the palace through the front door.”

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Contrary to reports, the new Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, is not operating outside the Emir’s palace due to security concerns, but because of “certain normal arrangements that precedes any emir’s grand entry into the palace,” a source familiar with the workings of the emirate council informed PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday.

He said the presence of the police within the emir’s palace area is to safeguard it against protesters.
He added that most of the emirs in the past, including the immediate past emir, Ado Bayero, took sometime before they went into the palace.

“Traditionally, a new emir does not even go into the palace through the front door,” he said. “Rather, he chooses within the wall of the palace a specific location in which he wants to use to enter the palace. That portion of the wall is then opened for him to enter.”
He explained that the late Mr. Bayero used a part of the western end of the fence to enter the palace.

“If you notice towards the western end, along Yola road, you will see an opening that is covered with concrete block, that was the door Ado Bayero used when he was appointed as emir,” he said.

He also added that if the police or protesters were there to stop the new emir from gaining entrance, they would have stopped the party that went to the palace to fetch the paraphernalia of office that was handed over to Mr. Sanusi.
“The police provided security escort to the team that went to fetch all those items and it was not done in the hidden, the vehicles went through the main gate and none attempted to stop them despite knowing of their mission,” he said.

The items recovered from the palace and handed over to the new emir include the symbolic Dabo’s Crown (Malafar Dabo), Tagwayen Masu (twin spears), Takobi (sword), Wukar Yanka (a knife that signifies supremacy of judgement) and Takalmin Jimina (ostrich plumage shoes).

PREMIUM TIMES also gathered that the new emir will today (Wednesday) hold court at the Nassarawa Mausoleum, which is a tradition that usually precedes his entrance to the palace.
“How long he stays at hawan Nasarawa depends on him,” our source added.

Another source within the Kano state government who also declined to be named because he has not been authorised to, said the family of the late emir also need time to fully relocate to their new abode provided by the state government.
“The late emir had a large family and they will need to take their time to relocate and no one is in a hurry to move them,” he said. “Beside, you know they are still receiving condolences at the palace.”

The police spokesperson in Kano, Magaji Majiya, also told PREMIUM TIMES that security presence in the palace is just to secure the place and ensure there is no escalation of violence following the protest that greeted the announcement of the new emir.
“You know the situation of things demands that we remain vigilant and ensure that any tendency for violence to erupt is quickly nipped in the bud,” he said. “That is why security is intensified.”