Since he arrived Kaduna State over a week ago, the personal residence of Muhammadu Sanusi II, the deposed Emir of Kano, has become a Mecca of sorts. From Zaria to Kano to Katsina and other parts of northern Nigeria, people troop in to pay homage or at least get a glimpse of the man who has come to be one of Nigeria’s candid voices.
The former emir received the visitors at his semi-detached storey building home along NITEL Quarters in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna.
It was not a surprise that Muhammadu Sanusi II chose Kaduna to make his grand entrance into northern Nigeria since he was dethroned as Emir of Kano on March 9, 2020.
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Like a magnet, on arrival, he pulled an unprecedented crowd that followed his motorcade through the city to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House where he met with Gov. Nasir el-Rufai.
The crowd later escorted him to his house where people have continued to queue to pay him homage.
It was on a wet Friday afternoon, shortly after his return from the Juma’at prayers, that the Management Team of Media Trust Limited – publishers of the Daily Trust titles – visited Sanusi’s home which was packed with admirers.
The rain did little to deter the crowd that accompanied the former emir for Friday prayers and escorted him back home.
Many of his admirers had earlier converged at the Kano Road Central Mosque as soon as news circulated that the former emir was to lead Friday prayers there.
They were, however, disappointed when he did not show up, and instead, led the Friday prayers at the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Mosque in Tudun Wada following the invitation of one of the country’s top Islamic leaders of the Tijjaniya brotherhood.
On Sanusi’s return home after the prayers, young men jumped off moving trucks to get as close as possible to him.
Their faces shone with adoration for a leader who has come to captivate many.
While the former emir continued to receive guests, around 03:30pm, the Media Trust team edged its way through the crowd to a passage that serves as the waiting area to the inner chamber where Sanusi was receiving visitors.
With visitors being granted between two to three minutes to interact with Sanusi and pose for pictures, it became evident that an interview with him at such a tensed and fast-paced circumstance would be impossible.
While observing Sanusi’s immaculate cream-coloured robes, laced with brown embroidery, one of his aids asked the guests with him to quickly leave, and soon it was time for the Media Trust team to have a one-on-one with the former emir.
Led by the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Media Trust, Malam Nura Mamman Daura, other members of the team who were ushered into Sanusi’s chamber were the Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Malam Naziru Mikailu, the General Manager, Human Resources and Management Services, Hajiya Hadiza Bala, the General Manager, Business and Strategy, Malam Ahmed Shekarau and myself, the Kaduna Bureau Chief of Media Trust.
By the time my superiors went ahead into the chamber, I trailed behind and was immediately impressed by the man who has come to symbolise courage and candour.
Royalty indeed portrays some semblance of power, dignity and of course wealth, and Sanusi II displays these features flawlessly.
When he spoke, it was in a low tone that communicated his message clearly.
Sanusi made it clear that he was yet to take certain decisions having left the throne only about five months ago, but that he was certain he would be proceeding to Oxford for further studies.
He said, “I will be going back to Oxford.
“I will certainly be writing a lot of academic papers.
“I also have an unfinished business with teaching. It was where I started and I think teaching is something I would like to explore again.”
Sanusi told the team that, “Daily Trust gave us a platform when they started.
“I, Usman Bugaje and Malam Kabiru Yusuf wrote articles for the paper.
“They have come a long way, and I remember it was during the Abacha military administration, yet we were not afraid,” even as some of the former emir’s aides made faces to indicate we were taking longer than necessary, Sanusi continued.
There is no doubt that Sanusi’s brilliance and boldness is equally matched by a sense of courteousness.
He spoke about the media being sensational and called for a soul searching for media operators to go beyond just stories that sold papers, but stories that held those in authority accountable.
Sanusi said, “What happens after you have done a story that has sold papers?
“You might have sold some newspapers, but the main story is lost, you must look at the wider picture in terms of the responsibility of the media to the people.
“The media must invest in economic reporting, get people that are specialised in beats to understand economic terms.
“For instance, get someone who studied economics to report on such issues.
“The media must be used to help tackle issues of poverty, healthcare and good governance.
“You must also protect those who speak truth to power and hold government accountable.”
He assured that even though he would be away on studies in Oxford, he intended to continue to write and to lend voice to national discourse.
It became obvious that the former emir was impressed when he was notified by the acting CEO of Media Trust, Malam Nura Mamman Daura, that the owners of the company which started from Kaduna State with a weekly edition about 23 years ago had withdrawn to let young professionals steer the ship of the company.
Malam Daura informed him that having put up a succession plan four years ago, the owners of Media Trust stepped aside to make way for the emergence of young, vibrant and professional non-owners who would take the company to greater heights.
He explained that it was why the new management team visited him, to not only introduce themselves to him, but solicit any form of advice he was willing to give.
Daura explained that, “In their own wisdom, because of corporate governance, about four years ago, the owners decided to set up a kind of succession plan whereby they felt that they had done their own bit and should allow other professionals who are non-owners to run the company while they sit at the board level.
“So it was that succession plan that saw the exit of Malam Kabiru Yusuf who was the founder four years ago from the CEO position but he remained the chairman of the board.
“The then Editor-in-Chief, Malam Mannir Dan Ali, was appointed the CEO and Editor-in-Chief and after serving two terms, in June this year, he too retired.”
Sanusi then said Media Trust had come of age and commended the decision of its owners to withdraw and allow professionals run the company.
He said, “That is the standard way to build an institution.
“The company has come of age and I am happy that it is growing.”
As our encounter came to an end, a murmur from one of the aides gave us a hint that we got more time with the emir than others did.
Having watched and listened to Muhammadu Sanusi II in the last few years, the short but impactful encounter provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tap from the wisdom and knowledge of the one-time emir.
In our 10-minute discussion with him, he did not hold back in dishing out advice, neither did he waver when it came to time to give a little chastisement.
But above all, his words displayed the motivation of a leader.
It was what we expected and hoped for from a man one who is known for forthrightness.
As Emir of Kano between 2014 and 2019, Sanusi sat on an ancient throne in which its occupant is still regarded as one of the most influential spiritual and traditional leaders of northern Nigeria.
He is the 14th Emir of Kano and a grandson of the 11th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi I who was equally dethroned in 1963.
If at all there are those who think that Sanusi’s “humiliation” from the throne is enough to keep him off balance, what is that the man has since moved on to other important things.
It is, however, uncertain if while studying at Oxford, Sanusi will make out time to be in the forefront of the kind of criticism that once put him on a collision course with many top politicians in Nigeria.
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