In a dramatic turn of events, Aminu Bayero, the recently deposed Emir of Kano, has returned to the historic city.
His whereabouts had been unknown since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf removed him from his position on Thursday.
The political landscape in Kano shifted significantly after the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)-dominated House of Assembly repealed a law enacted by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on December 5, 2019. This law had divided the Kano Emirate into five distinct regions, each governed by its own appointed Emir.
Following the repeal of the Kano Emirates Council Law, Governor Yusuf ordered the affected Emirs to vacate their palaces within 48 hours and hand over authority to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. In a surprising move, Yusuf reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was dethroned by Ganduje in 2020.
Sanusi, having received his reappointment letter on Friday, led the Friday prayers at the Government House in Kano.
Early Saturday morning, Ado Bayero returned to Kano, greeted by a large crowd of supporters. His aircraft landed at Aminu Kano International Airport at 4:30 am, where he was immediately surrounded by supporters chanting verses from Surah Al-Fatihah in the Holy Quran, expressing their unwavering support and prayers for divine intervention.
Dressed in full royal attire, Ado Bayero did not address the crowd but proceeded with measured steps. He later performed the dawn prayer (Subhi) at the airport, marking his solemn return to the city amidst a fervent political atmosphere.