Alhaji Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I KBE () was the Acting Governor of Northern Nigeria (1957) and Emir of Kano from 1954 to 1963. He was the eldest son of Emir Abdullahi Bayero. He was a powerful Emir that had substantial influence in the colonial Northern Nigeria. He hosted a grand durbar festival for Elizabeth II when she visited Kano in 1956. The power tussle between him and his distant cousin Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto and accusations of financial malfeasance led to his abdication, and subsequent self-exile in Azare 1963.[1] His grandson, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria reigned as Emir of Kano from 2014 to 2020, was dethroned by the state government in 2020 then reinstated on 24th May 2024 by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.[2] Sanusi belonged to the reformed Tijaniyya order of Ibrahim Niass.[3]
| Muhammadu Sanusi I | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Emir of Kano | |
| Reign | December 1953 – April 1963 |
| Predecessor | Abdullahi Bayero |
| Abdicated | Muhammad Inuwa |
| Chiroma of Kano | |
| In office 1926 – 23 December 1953 | |
| Monarch | Abdullahi Bayero |
| Preceded by | Abdullahi Bayero |
| Succeeded by | Aminu Sanusi |
| Born | 1900 Kano |
| Died | 1991 (aged 90–91) Wudil, Kano State |
| Burial | Nassarawa Palace, Kano State, Nigeria |
| Issue | Ado Sanusi |
| Dynasty | Dabo (House of Bayero) |
| Father | Abdullahi Bayero |
| Religion | Islam |
Life
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Sanusi was born to the large family of Abdullahi Bayero, Emir of Kano, among his brothers was future Emir, Ado Bayero. He was the second son of Bayero but his elder brother died at an early age.[4] He was educated at Kano Middle School. Prior to becoming Emir, Sanusi held the title of Ciroma Kano [5] and in 1947, he became a member of the regional House of Assembly. Sanusi was closely affiliated with Ibrahim Niass and the Tijani Sufi, for a while, he accompanied Niass on pilgrimages to Mecca and was later the appointed Caliph of the tijaniyyah order in Nigeria.[6] He was also appointed a minister without portfolio in 1958 alongside other emirs like Usman Nagogo.[7] In his memoir 'An Imperial Twilight', Sir Gawain Bell narrates how he appointed Emir Sanusi to act in his stead as Governor of Northern Nigeria for six months in 1957.[8]
Knighthood
edit- Knighted into the Order of the British Empire as a Knight Commander (K.B.E.)
References
edit- ^ Muffet, D.J.M (1975). "Legitimacy and Deference in a Tradition Oriented Society: Observations Arising from an Examination of Some Aspects of a Case Study Associated with the Abdication of the Emir of Kano in 1963". African Studies Review. 18 (2 yrs) (Volume 18 ed.): 101–115. doi:10.2307/523454. JSTOR 523454. S2CID 144004248. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Press, Fellow (2020-03-09). "BREAKING: Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi dethroned". Fellow Press. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ Paden 1973, p. 112.
- ^ Umar, Mohammed S; Abubakar, Ahmed T (2017). Power and Piety: Life and Legacy of Sarkin Kano, Sir Muhammadu Sanusi I. India: Manipal technologies Limited. OCLC 1029001938. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Paden 1973, p. 110.
- ^ Paden 1973, p. 115.
- ^ Ostien, Philip (1999–2006). Sharia implementation in Northern Nigeria (PDF) (Volume I ed.). Sati Fwatshak and Philip Ostien. p. 12. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Bell, Gawain (1989). An Imperial Twilight. London : Lester Crook, 1989. ISBN 9781870915069. OCLC 1001158676. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
Sources
edit- Paden, John N. (1973). Religion and political culture in Kano. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-01738-2.
External links
edit- Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Muhammadu Sanusi I Visiting the United Nations, New York City, July 1960 on YouTube
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