Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been named as the new Emir of Kano.
In an announcement made this afternoon by the Kano State government, the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was picked to replace Alhaji Ado Bayero, who died last Friday.
Sanusi was picked ahead of the late emir’s son, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Chiroman Kano, who was also a firm favourite.
Curiously the ex-CBN governor conceded the seat to Lamido Sanusi Ado Bayero earlier this morning in a tweet, which read thus:
“Sanusi Ado Bayero (Chiroman Kano) has been selected as the new Emir of Kano. Announcement to be made later,” the ex-CBN chief tweeted.
However, when the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Zakariya, announced the name of the new Emir Sunday afternoon, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ascended the exalted throne.
Sanusi’s close friend and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, tweeted: “BREAKING: Alhamdulillah. The best man has won. SLS is the Emir of Kano. Jonathanians can go jump in the lagoon.”
Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (born 31 July 1961) was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria on 3 June 2009 and suspended from office by President Goodlluck Jonathan on 20 February 2014 due to FRC reports about reckless spending.
The global financial intelliegence magazine, The Banker, published by the Financial Times, has conferred on Sanusi two awards, the global award for Central Bank Governor of the Year, as well as for Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa.
The TIME magazine also listed Sanusi in its TIMES 100 list of most influential people of 2011.