President Muhammadu Buhari has explained his decision not to intervene in the disagreement between Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
The Nigerian leader revealed this after Yunusa Danyay, Emir of Ningi, appealed to him to protect the traditional institution in the north from being destabilized by the ongoing disputes between Ganduje and Sanusi.
In his plea, Emir of Ningi stated, “I am begging the president as a father to all to please in the name of Allah to intervene in the problem happening in Kano and settle this dispute between the Emir and the Governor. I have high hopes that Buhari will not allow the traditional institution to be humiliated and bastardised.”
In response to the plea made by Emir of Ningi, President Buhari, through his senior special assistant on media and publicity Garba Shehu, cited the Nigerian constitution as the reason why he cannot interfere in the dispute.
He affirmed, “I know my role as the President of Nigeria. By the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Governor of Kano State has his own roles, once a matter is in the hands of the House of Assembly (like in Kano), the President has no Constitutional right to interfere. I am here by the Constitution, I swore by it, and I am going to stand by it. But let me tell you the bottom line of my understanding of the Constitutional role is that peace and security of all Nigerians must be guaranteed, where the people are threatened, then I will use my constitutional powers.”