The Senate on Tuesday dismissed an alleged plot to declare a state of emergency in Kano State over the emirate tussle between Ado Bayero and Muhammad Sanusi II.
The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, told The PUNCH that such a motion was not before the red chamber.
The Senate’s rebuttal came as the Nigerian Bar Association disclosed that its disciplinary committee had received eight memos from the lawyers involved in the Kano Emirate conflicting court orders.
Kano has been enmeshed in a crisis since the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano, following the enactment of the new Kano Emirate Council Law and the deposition of Bayero.
The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had alleged that the Federal Government was planning to declare a state of emergency in Kano State.
Kwankwaso, who was the party’s presidential candidate in last year’s general election, alleged that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government was taking sides in the Kano emirate tussle.
“Some people from Kano, who are enemies of the state, are the ones advising the Federal Government on how to take over Kano through a state of emergency. This is madness of the highest order that the good, peace-loving, and committed people of Kano will resist,’’ Kwankwaso said.
Similarly, in an interview with Arise Tv, an NNPP chieftain, Buba Galadima, warned President Bola Tinubu to steer clear of Kano politics.
Galadima warned that the President’s involvement in Kano politics could wreck his administration.
He said, “I want to tell the Federal Government, including my friend, President Bola Tinubu, that he should be mindful of Kano politics, it will destroy his Presidency.
“They never agree on any issue and I have an inherent knowledge of how we dealt with the issue of Kano politics during the NPN when I was the youth leader.
“I know some very powerful politicians in Kano, including some rich men who came to meet the President that they should remove Abba Yusuf and nothing will happen.”
However, the Presidency denied the allegation as a mere rumour.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, affirmed that there was no circumstance to warrant an emergency declaration in Kano state.
“There is no truth in it. It is a mere rumour. The Federal Government cannot declare any state of emergency in any state without the involvement of the National Assembly. There is no such plan.
“The National Assembly is in recess. No President can just wake up and declare a state of emergency in any state,’’ Onanuga said.
Reacting to the alleged plot to suspend democratic structures in Kano State, the Senate spokesperson said there was no point discussing the issue.
Senator Adaramodu said, “Declaration of State of Emergency is not before the Senate, so discussing such is unnecessary. The major assignments before us when we resume work after the Salah break are the consideration of the Supplementary Budget and the minimum wage bill. Equally, the issue of Constitutional review and amendment. Also, the electoral laws shall be attended to.”
Efforts to get the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, proved abortive as he couldn’t be reached on the phone.