The Kano state government has approved a fresh bill that seeks to restore the four first-class emirates that were dissolved by a Kano high court.

Kano Focus reports that the new bill is coming two weeks after a Kano high court dissolved the four emirates which had already been created on May 8, 2019 by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

The court, presided over by Justice Usman Na’abba had on November 21, 2019 ruled that the Kano State House of Assembly did not follow due process in passing the law that established the four emirates.

The creation of the additional emirates– in Gaya, Rano, Karaye and Bichi local government areas–is seen as a ploy to whittle down the influence of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II over perceived political differences with Mr Ganduje.

In a statement on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information Muhammad Garba revealed that the Kano state Executive Council “has approved Emirate Council Bill 2019 which provides for the establishment of additional Emirates in the state.”

Mr Garba said the council had already endorsed “the establishment of four new emirates namely Rano, Gaya, Bichi and Karaye and forward same to the state Assembly for necessary action.”

He said that “some of these Emirate have even pre-dated Kano in ancient times, while the effort to revive them during the Second Republic was short-lived.”

“While the council seriously discussed the decade long clamour for the establishment of additional emirates in the state with a view to bringing more development to the people of the new Emirates, the exercise was also informed by the need to bring traditional institution closer to the people in addition to facilitating speedy socio-economic development and security in the state.

“The introduction of the Free and Compulsory Education at Basic and Secondary level requires the active participation of the community especially the traditional institutions for its successful implementation,” Mr Garba added.

The commissioner also explained that “the Emirate Council Bill 2019 was amended in the public interest following a Kano High Court action that nullified the law on the ground that the petition was presented to the Assembly by a private person not a member of the House.”

“The council, therefore, called on the state Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Bill in the interest of the public,” he said.

Source: Kanofocus.com