Muhammadu Sanusi II has reflected on the period he spent away from Kano following his removal as emir, saying the time outside the state shielded him from possible humiliation and gave him the opportunity to further his academic pursuits.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking at the Fola Adeola Annual Ramadan Lecture, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor discussed resilience during difficult moments and urged people not to believe that their fortunes depend solely on powerful individuals. According to him, circumstances change only by the will of God.
Sanusi said people often make the mistake of attributing their success or setbacks to other human beings instead of recognising that situations can change at any moment.
“Too often in our lives, we attribute things to human beings, but they are all created,” he said.
“Remembering that situations are not permanent, that Allah changes your circumstances, helps you cope and conduct yourself.”
The monarch cautioned against humiliating oneself in the pursuit of favour or influence, noting that some individuals go to extreme lengths to please those they believe control their future.
“I’ve seen people who beg, cringe, and bow to human beings. They humiliate themselves because they feel this person is the one who holds the path to their position,” he said.
Using his personal experiences as an example, Sanusi said his faith helped him remain calm through periods when he lost important positions. He recalled being suspended as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2014, only to be appointed Emir of Kano shortly afterwards.
“I was suspended from being governor of central bank. Three months later, I became an emir,” he said.
Sanusi was later removed as Emir of Kano in 2020 during the administration of then governor Abdullahi Ganduje, a development that sparked widespread public debate and legal disputes. However, he was reinstated to the throne in 2024 after Abba Yusuf became governor of Kano State.
Reflecting on the years he spent outside the palace, the monarch said the period turned out to be beneficial for him.
“Several years ago I was removed as emir; four years later, I came back. I’m now in the same palace, I’m on my throne. Yes, there are challenges but at the end of the day you hold on to God. You don’t panic,” he said.
Sanusi added that staying away from Kano during that period helped him avoid situations that might have been humiliating.
“I think of all the things that could have happened if I was in Kano in the last four years, the humiliation I could have faced, the people I would have had to deal with, the people I would have had to report to, but God was so merciful, so kind, He took me away from that. He gave me a chance, I went and did a PhD and I’m back,” he said.
The monarch also emphasised that losing political or traditional positions should not be viewed as the end of one’s life or purpose.
“If I’m taken away from positions, it’s not a big deal. At the end of the day, I ask myself, have I done anything to offend God?” he said.
“It’s better for you to leave there and keep to your principles than to stay there and earn the wrath of Allah.”
Sanusi served as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014 before becoming Emir of Kano in the same year. His reinstatement in 2024 marked his return to the historic throne after four years away from the palace.
