Bello Alhassan, Kaduna
DAILY COURIER - The 16th Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, has announced his decision to cease advocating for the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, citing a lack of cordiality from the government towards him.
Speaking on Wednesday at the 2025 Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture in Lagos, the former Central Bank Governor criticized the government’s inability to articulate its policies effectively. He lamented the absence of credible representatives to explain the benefits of the administration’s reforms to Nigerians.
“I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explain, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government,” Sanusi declared.
The Emir revealed that while he initially offered support to help communicate the government’s economic agenda, he has chosen to withdraw due to the administration’s perceived lack of friendship.
“You see, they are my friends. If they fail to act like friends, I will not act like one,” Sanusi said. “I observe their actions, and they lack credible individuals who can effectively explain their policies. However, I am not here to assist.”
He further challenged the government to take responsibility for explaining its policies to Nigerians, adding that he would refrain from further commentary on the matter.
While Sanusi refrained from outright support, he acknowledged that Nigeria’s current economic challenges are partly a result of decades of poor management.
“What we are going through today is at least in part, not totally, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management. People were warned decades ago that if they continued down this path, this is where they would end up. They chose not to listen,” he noted.
However, the Emir expressed skepticism about the administration’s approach, stating that not all current policies are correct. He left the door open for future engagement, saying, “When the government is prepared to discuss the economy, I will likely engage. For now, I am here to honor Chief Gani Fawehinmi.”
In his speech, Sanusi emphasized the importance of integrity, hard work, and ethical leadership, drawing lessons from the life of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a renowned human rights activist and legal icon.
“What we need to do is revisit our values. Do we truly possess those values? Are we genuinely committed to our work? What is the integrity with which we approach our tasks? For someone like Gani, these are the lessons from his life,” he stated.
The Emir challenged Nigerians to prioritize values over superficial distinctions, arguing that identity should be rooted in character and ethics rather than ethnicity, religion, or status.
“If you are a thief, you are a thief—whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Muslim, Christian, a lawyer, or otherwise. That is your identity. Can we please begin to reflect and stop taking pride in superficial, misleading distinctions?” Sanusi urged.
The lecture served as a platform for Sanusi to honor Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy, calling on Nigerians to emulate his unwavering commitment to justice, integrity, and the fight for a better society.
Sanusi’s remarks have sparked widespread discussion, with many interpreting his withdrawal of support for the government’s reforms as a call for greater accountability and inclusiveness in policy communication.
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