Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II
16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has found himself at the center of media storm following comments he made regarding President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Recall that, during a memorial lecture for the late human rights lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Sanusi had expressed his reluctance to support the government’s communication about its policies.
He had stated that discussing the economy or explaining the benefits of these reforms would only serve to aid the Tinubu administration, which he was not inclined to do.
Initial remarks and reactions
Sanusi’s initial remarks were perceived as critical of the government. He articulated that he had decided not to engage in discussions about economic reforms because he believed it would benefit the current administration.
This statement drew backlash from various quarters, including government officials who accused him of prioritizing personal interests over national duty.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, specifically criticized Sanusi for what he termed an abandonment of truth due to personal grievances.
Clarification by Sanusi II
In response to the uproar, Sanusi has taken to social media to make a clarification on his statements.
He expressed disappointment over how “his words were sensationalized and taken out of context.”
According to him, his broader message was reduced to a single paragraph that failed to capture his nuanced support for government reforms.
He insisted that his speech was in support of government’s reforms and also an acknowledgement of the sacrifices Nigerians were enduring from years of economic mismanagement.
“They took one paragraph out of context and sensationalised it; nothing about the nuanced support given to the government. That there are arguments supporting the reforms. That we are paying a price for decades of mismanagement before Tinubu. That there is light at the end of the tunnel. That we should all pray and support the system and talk about the good things happening,” he said.
He emphasized that while there are valid arguments supporting these reforms, they come with sacrifices due to years of economic mismanagement prior to Tinubu’s administration.
Sanusi insisted that there is hope for improvement (“light at the end of the tunnel”) and urged Nigerians to pray for and support the system while acknowledging positive developments occurring within it.
He also mentioned that his comments were ideologically charged but misunderstood, indicating that some references in his speech were meant for specific individuals within the government.
However, an observer, Hadi Abu Sayyu said, Emir Sanusi’s clarification was needless because most Nigerians seem to have understood him perfectly in the first place.
“We all got it perfectly in the first place. We knew he was in support of Tinubu’s policies, and I think even the government understood it the same way. So, he doesn’t need this clarification at all. If Emir Sanusi thinks the information minister’s responce did not capture his (Sanusi’s) agreement with the government’s policy, then, I must confess that I am disappointed in his low level if intelligence,” Abu Sayyu said. – NS
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