Kano Assembly Passes Bill To Establish Second Class Emirates

The Kano State House of Assembly, on Tuesday passed a bill to establish second class emirates within the state.

Under the new legislation, three second class emirates will be created and will operate under the jurisdiction of the first-class Kano Emirate.

According to the legislation, Rano Emirate will cover Rano, Bunkure, and Kibiya; Karaye Emirate will include the regions of Karaye and Rogo while the third, Gaya Emirate will encompass Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu.

Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Muhd Bello Butu-Butu revealed that the establishment of these emirates is aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and promoting cultural representation across the state, in line with the historical antecedents of the state.

Butu-Butu clarified that according to the new law, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will forward the nominees for the second class emirs to the governor for final approval.

“All second class emirs are now under the control of the sole first class Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II. It is up to the government to reinstate the deposed emirs of the three emirates or not, but in the eyes of the law, they remain deposed” Butu-Butu emphasised.

LEADERSHIP reports that the development follows the passage of the Kano Emirates Council Law (repeal bill) 2024 in May, which reverted the state’s highest-ranking traditional institution to its former structure of one emir.

The law dissolved all emirates established under the previous legislation, returning district heads elevated or appointed under the repealed law to their previous positions.

The bill, titled Kano State Emirates Council (Amendment number 2) Law, 2024, was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing the Dala Constituency, Lawan Hussaini Chediyar Yan Gurasa.

Recall that the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, on December 5, 2019, assented to a law creating four additional new emirates – Rano, Bichi, Karate and Gaya.

If assented into law, the passage of the bill by the Assembly will translate into restoration of three out to the four Emirates as second class emirates.