Mahi Nyass, the supreme leader of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement, has advised Lamido Sanusi to emulate his grandfather’s example by refusing his recent reported reinstatement as the Emir of Kano.
Sanusi, who leads the Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement in Nigeria, was reinstated as the Emir of Kano last month despite a court order prohibiting such action.
This reinstatement followed the Kano state government’s amendment of the emirate law, which dissolved four out of the five emirates and purportedly deposed Aminu Ado-Bayero from his position as Emir of Kano.
Ado-Bayero, challenging his removal through legal avenues, continues to occupy the emir’s mini palace in defiance of the state government’s directives.
In a letter dated June 3, Nyass, writing on behalf of the Islamic sect, urged Sanusi to refuse the reinstatement, invoking the precedent set by his grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi, who declined a similar offer after his dethronement.
Nyass’s letter reads: “As the family of Shaykhul Islam, Gausuzzaman, Qudwatuna ilaa Rabbina, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass of Kaolack, Senegal, we feel obligated to comment on recent events in the Kano Emirate, a significant hub of the Tijjaniya brotherhood.
“The reinstatement of Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi II as Emir of Kano by the state government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf raises issues concerning the rule of law and the well-being of the citizens.
“We look up to the exemplary leadership of the late Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi, who, prioritizing public interest over personal gain, declined reinstatement following his dethronement. We urge Khalifa Muhammad Sanusi to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, putting Kano’s peace and stability first.
“We appeal to everyone to prioritize the public interest and work towards a legally accepted, peaceful resolution. We pray for divine guidance and wisdom for our leaders in Kano State and Nigeria,” the letter concluded.
Sanusi was appointed as the leader of the Tijjaniyya Islamic Movement in Nigeria by the movement’s global headquarters in Kaolack, Senegal. His grandfather, Muhammadu Sanusi I, who also served as Emir of Kano, was the initial leader of the sect in Nigeria.