Nigerians like to jump into trending topics and make all kinds of predictions and analyses like fake pastors.
It is unfortunate that Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was dethroned as Emir. It is a sore move by the Kano state government. Personally, I admire some of his qualities as an enlightened Nigerian. He is very articulate on national issues. It is very understandable for people to sympathize with him because he has been a vibrant voice from a north that is predominantly poor in every growth indexes in the world.
I don’t want to join those who think SLS was dethroned just because he spoke truth to power. Far from it. He spoke truth to power from a very wrong platform. There are lots of Nigerians who have been speaking truth to power since independence. The very respected Prof. Wole Soyinka is a legend in this area. He was incarcerated during the military era for censuring men in uniform. He wasn’t even a beneficiary of the men in uniform.
You can only be a true advocate if your source of income is independent of the persons you criticize. It is an error to criticize a system you heavily benefit from. I don’t want to believe that a whole SLS doesn’t know this simple code.
In 1963, his grand father was dethroned by then Premier of Northern region, late Sir Ahmadu Bello over some heated dispute. Today, Governor Ganduje repeated history by dethroning Sanusi perhaps over political differences.
All over the world, the grip of monarchy is waning. The traditional institution is threatened in this modern era. For instance, the powers of the Queen of England are being subsumed under the UK government gradually.
Prior to independence, monarchs wielded absolute influence. In the north, some monarchs wielded both monarchical and political powers. Today, Governors are the demigods in their states. Our constitution gives them absolute power.
Monarchs are cared for by Governors with state funds. I doubt most people hailing SLS did not know the level of affluence his emirate sat on. All the fleet of super cars and first class luxury he enjoyed as emir, from whose purse were they funded? The frequent trips abroad with large entourage, who picked the bills? Monoyo? Definitely the Kano State Government.
Nobody is against speaking truth to power but before you do, ensure to pick your bills from your own purse. That is the only way you can keep being the voice of the oppressed and impoverished.
The monarchs who haven’t felt the wrath of a governor are probably those who understand how this thing work in today’s society and maintain their advisory role to their governors.
Gone, long gone are those days when monarchs are so powerful. Even English monarchy is struggling today because people are questioning a lot of things that held them bound in those days.
SLS should have known this.
