Gov Yusuf signs bill to bolster Kano Emir, creates subordinate Emirates

The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has signed into law the bill establishing three second class emirates in the state.

With the bill coming into force, an Emir of Kano is considered a first class Emir, while Emirs of the newly created emirates are considered second class

The Kano State House of Assembly had passed the Kano State Emirates Council Establishment Bill 2024 after the bill scaled third reading earlier on Tuesday.

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and member representing Rimin Gado/Tofa state constituency, Muhammad Bello Bututu, provides for the establishment of Kano as first class emirate and other second class emirates of Rano, Gaya and Karaye.

Rano emirates consist of Rano, Bunkure and Kibiya local government areas, Gaya Emirate has Gaya, Albasu and Ajingi local government areas while Karaye Emirate comprises Karaye and Rogo local government areas.

According to the new law, Emirs of the three second class emirates would be answerable to the emir of Kano and shall have powers to advise him on any matter relating to maintenance of public order, boundary dispute or dispute between two or more communities with respect to land or anything threatening or endangering continuous existence of social and cultural life within their areas of jurisdiction as well as in religious affairs.

Section 3 of the bill provides that all appointments and activities of the first class and second class emirs shall be subjected to the approval of the governor through the commissioner for local governments.

Section 4 (1) of the bill provides for the establishment of first class Kano emirate and other second class emirates. Subsection 2 provides for second class emirs of Rano, Gaya and Karaye.

Subsection 3 provides that the Emir of Kano shall be the head of all the rmirates and the second class emirs shall be answerable to him while subsection 4 says “all the second class emirs shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of the local government areas specified and listed under their names.

Accordingly, the governor is empowered by Section 7 of the bill to appoint any suitable person as second class emir pursuant to the provision of Section 4 of the bill.

Bichi Emirate that was created by the former Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje but dissolved by the new Kano emirates council (repealed) law 2024 was however left out.