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Kano Emirate: The Law Became A Victim Instead Of Catalyst For Political Reforms And Social Devt In Kano
It didn’t come to me as a surprise in the least that, the recent abrogation and amendments of the Kano Emirate law was challenged in the court by some persons aggrieved by the action of the Kano State House of Assembly and the subsequent assent to the Law by the Governor of Kano State. It is only to be expected given the enormous controversies raised by the Law and the political under currents behind it, which is the subject of this post. It has never been a secret that the amendment of the Law by the former Kano State House of Assembly was based on and driven by political consideration of the All Progressives Congress(APC) government in the State under Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Since the amendment was a Law validly made by the then State House of Assembly, it had to be implemented and effect was given to it. That’s the position and the State of Law at the time
After the 2023 General elections, the APC government of Kano State was defeated and dethroned from power. The State was won by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP and Abba Kabir Yusuf succeeded Ganduje as Governor. The House of Assembly was also dominated by Members from the NNPP and this completely changed the dynamics of political power in Kano State. The success of the NNPP in both the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, has given the Abba Kabir government control over both the Instruments of Executive and Legislative power in Kano State.
The NNPP government of Abba Kabir Yusuf made it a cardinal issue of its campaign that the law which “balkanised” the Kano Emirate was unjust and the NNPP promised to “undo” the injustice if it won the election. As it turned out, the NNPP won the election and secured an overwhelming majority of the seats in the House of commons. This set the ground and provides the background to the amendment just effected by the Kano State House of commons to the Emirate Council law passed by its predecessor.
It must be stated and appreciated that under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) the State House of Assembly is empowered to make new laws, and to abrogate or amend existing laws, in the interest of peace, order and good governance of the State. Therefore the right of the past and present Houses of Assembly over the process of law making is settled beyond any dispute or contestation. It’s simply beyond any doubt or argument. It is also futile in law to argue at this stage, that the former Kano State House of Assembly did not have the power to amend the Emirate Law or for the Executive Governor to take other or further political and additional actions pursuant to the amendment and to give effect to the law as amended. That was the situation before the 2023 election when the APC was in control of the Executive and Legislative arms of government in Kano State. But the dynamics of Kano State politics changed drastically and drastically after the election. The APC lost the election to the NNPP and totally new political order emerged on the political landscape of Kano State.
As earlier stated in the post, it was an important part of the campaign promises of the NNPP to reverse the Kano State Emirate amendment law passed and implemented by the former APC government in the State and immediately after assuming office as Governor, Abba did not mince words in reiterating his resolve to deliver on this aspect of his party’s campaign promises. It is pertinent and worthy of note that both the Governor and Kwankwaso his mentor and leader spared no opportunity on every political platform to repeat their determination to repeal the law and return the Emirate situation to the status quo before the amendment by the former House of Assembly. Therefore, when the NNPP dominated House of Assembly yesterday concluded the processes of the abrogation and amendment of the Emirate Council Law and Governor Kabir Yusuf gave it an expeditious assent, it didn’t come as a surprise to the observers of political developments in Kano State.
With both actions completed or done and dusted by the the two organs of the Government entitled to exercise the powers conferred on them by the Constitution and the Law, the Kano State Emirate Council Law as amended, may be said to be validly, legally and constitutionally passed and assented to by the Governor. Any person aggrieved by the passage of the new law, can only challenge the processes and procedures adopted by the House of Assembly and the governor in making the amendments and the steps taken in the implementation of the law as amended but not the power of the House of Assembly to make the Law, or of the Governor to assent to it and give effect to it through implementation. That’s the legal position as I understand it.
But the big elephant in the room and the core subject is not the Law per se but the politics of the law.
It’s pertinent to observe that in both the former and the present amendment of the Emirate Council law, the purpose or interest of the law is not the prime consideration. The main objective of the Ganduje amendment was to score a Political gain and make political capital of the law and he did. However, with the defeat of the APC by the NNPP in the State elections, the table turned and so did the dynamics and mechanics of Kano State politics
The success of the NNPP at the polls has presented Abba Kabir Yusuf the power and opportunity to reverse the Ganduje amendment of the Law and institute his own amendment, which swept away the Legislative and political gains scored by the APC government on the issue. The sad part of all these, is that the Law was used as an instrument of political vendetta to settle scores on both sides. The Law became a victim instead of a catalyst of political reforms and social development in Kano State. This lends credence to my thesis as expressed in many posts, that under our democracy, politics is more powerful than the law and when the two conflict, the law comes out the weaker.
Yusuf Shehu Usman, mni (Abuja)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and appointed Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari as his replacement. Ahmadu Musa Kida has also been named the new non-executive chairman of the board.
Additionally, Tinubu has sacked all board members appointed alongside Akinyelure and Kyari in November 2023. Adedapo Segun, who became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) last year, has been retained on the newly restructured board.
New Board Composition
The newly appointed board consists of six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones:
Bello Rabiu (North West)
Yusuf Usman (North East)
Babs Omotowa (North Central)
Austin Avuru (South-South)
David Ige (South West)
Henry Obih (South East)
Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will represent the ministry, while Aminu Said Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Objectives of the Restructured Board
President Tinubu emphasized that the restructuring aims to enhance operational efficiency, restore investor confidence, boost local content, drive economic growth, and advance gas commercialization and diversification.
The new board has been tasked with the following objectives:
Conduct a strategic portfolio review of NNPCL’s operated and joint venture assets to align with value maximization goals.
Increase oil sector investments from $17 billion (2023) to $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030.
Raise daily oil production to 2 million barrels by 2027 and 3 million barrels by 2030.
Boost gas production to 8 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.
Expand NNPCL’s share of crude oil refining output to 200,000 barrels daily by 2027 and 500,000 barrels by 2030.
Profiles of Key Appointees
Ahmadu Musa Kida – New Board Chairman
Ahmadu Musa Kida, from Borno State, holds a degree in civil engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a postgraduate diploma in petroleum engineering from the Institut Francais du Petrol (IFP) in Paris.
He began his oil industry career at Elf Petroleum Nigeria before joining Total Exploration and Production in 1985. In 2015, he became Deputy Managing Director of Deep Water Services at Total Nigeria. In 2023, he was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Pan Ocean-Newcross Group. Outside the oil industry, he served as president of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).
Bashir Bayo Ojulari – New GCEO
Ojulari, from Kwara State, was formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company. He led the recent $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) by a consortium of indigenous energy firms.
A mechanical engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ojulari started his career at Elf Aquitaine and later joined Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria in 1991. He worked in various roles across Europe and the Middle East as a petroleum process and production engineer, strategic planner, field developer, and asset manager. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).
Ojulari has also served as chairman and trustee of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE Nigerian Council) and is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Acknowledgment of Outgoing Board Members
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board members for their service, particularly their contributions to rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed petroleum production after prolonged inactivity. He wished them success in their future endeavors.
The restructuring underscores Tinubu’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with ambitious goals for increased production and investment.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has cautioned youths in the state against launching attacks on non-indigenes following the killing of 16 Hausa travelers in Uromi, Edo State.
Speaking on Sunday after leading the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the Kofar Mata Eid ground, the Emir urged restraint and called for justice through legal means rather than retaliation.
“We received reports on Saturday evening that some youths in certain areas were planning reprisal attacks on non-indigenous residents after the Eid prayers. We strongly advise against such actions,” Sanusi stated.
He emphasized the need to maintain peace and avoid lawlessness. “We appeal to them not to take the law into their own hands. It is crucial to prevent any breakdown of law and order. Traditional leaders across the state must remain vigilant,” he added.
The Emir also called on authorities to ensure that those responsible for the killings in Edo are brought to justice. “The relevant agencies must thoroughly investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this barbaric act,” he urged.
Furthermore, he reminded Muslims to uphold the values of discipline and righteousness learned during Ramadan. “As we conclude the fasting period, we must sustain the lessons of Ramadan and refrain from returning to sinful acts,” he advised.
Sanusi’s message reinforces the importance of peaceful coexistence and lawful redress in the wake of the tragic incident.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to transform Nigeria, stating that millions of Nigerians share this belief. He further emphasized that if Tinubu cannot fix the country, many would see it as a loss of hope.
Speaking on Saturday at the President’s 73rd birthday celebration in Abuja, Uzodimma highlighted Tinubu’s bold economic decisions as a testament to his commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges.
“Only a leader with strong conviction and genuine love for the nation could have made such bold yet necessary decisions. These decisions have averted economic collapse and are now restoring hope and confidence across the country,” Uzodimma stated.
He reiterated his stance, saying, “As I have said before, and I emphasize again tonight, millions of Nigerians believe that if you cannot fix this country, then all hope is lost. I am pleased to confirm that you have not let us down. Through your purposeful and transformative leadership, Nigeria is back on track and progressing with renewed determination toward a brighter future.”
Uzodimma credited Tinubu with reigniting the Nigerian spirit of ingenuity and resilience, restoring faith in the nation, and securing his place in history through bold reforms and dedicated service. He extended his best wishes to the President, praying for divine guidance and strength.
As Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum, Uzodimma underscored the importance of Tinubu’s leadership, noting that the nation still needs his direction. He assured the President of continued prayers for strength to fulfill his mission for Nigeria.
“We still rely on your leadership, Mr. President. While we may not have silver or gold to offer, we will always pray for you, asking God to strengthen your resolve to leave a lasting legacy for this generation and those yet to come,” he concluded.
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