Kano State Government has issued a quit notice to its dethroned Emir Aminu Bayero to vacate the Nasarawa Palace where he has been staying after his dethronement as Emir of Kano.
The government said the palace, which it described as a ‘’ cemetery/graveyard with a part serving as “a guest house for very important visitors,’’ was unsafe for the dethroned emir to continue to ‘squat’ in.
It added that Bayero had no reason to live in the ‘’defective structure ‘’ because he ‘’forced himself’’ into it.
Media and Publicity Director-General to Governor Abba Yusuf, Sanusi Bature, who revealed the quit notice served on the deposed monarch yesterday, added that N99.92 million has been approved by his boss for the demolition, reconstruction, and renovation of the defective wall/fence as well as the surroundings of the palace.
Bature did not say how the quit notice was served on Bayero. But he explained that the governor gave his nod to the ‘’approved sum of N99,928,541.63’’ during the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting on Saturday.
Justifying the quit notice, the media aide said: “His (Aminu’s) father was buried there, his grandfather is there and his great-grandfather is there. You can find out.”
“So, the Nasawara palace is a cemetery for the late Emirs of Kano, not much of a palace.
“Another part of it is used as a guest house for very important visitors of the palace. It is also where the Emir can rest for a short while when he is coming back from an annual festival during the Sallah celebration or when he is coming to the Government House.
“So, Aminu is living in a graveyard. He forced himself into that property. We want to renovate it so it can be used for its original purpose and Bayero’s safety from the defective structure.
“We are indeed concerned about the safety of him continuing to stay in the graveyard.
“With the repeal of the 2019 Emirate Law, which had created additional emirates like Bichi, Karaye, Gaya, and Rano, Bayero’s jurisdiction no longer exists.
“I mean, with the revision of the law under one united Kano, the Emirate that Bayero once served does not exist again.
“He was the 15th Emir of Kano, but his jurisdiction was not for the 44 local government areas of Kano. It was only for the eight metropolitan government councils, which is now abolished.’’
Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice Haruna Dederi had on Thursday announced government’s plan to demolish the palace.
The announcement prompted the state Police command to deploy its personnel to cordon off the palace to avert a breakdown of law and order.
In May Governor Yusuf dethroned Bayero and reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II emir of Kano.
While Sanusi moved into the main place of the Emir, Bayero, who was out of the state when his removal was announced, returned and opted to reside in the Nasarawa Palace.
Bayero’s dethronement led to legal battles.
The last ruling on the impasse was on Thursday by a Federal High Court in Kano which ordered the reinstatement of Bayero.
But the Justice Commissioner reaffirmed the validity of the law passed by the House of Assembly that paved the way for Sanusi’s reinstatement as the 16th emir of Kano.