Sanusi Vows To Continue As Change Agent Despite Resistance

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, on Thursday asserted that he would never be discouraged as an advocate of change in the society, even though such advocacy is always met with resistance.

Speaking in Kano when the new Country Representative of UNICEF, Mohammed Fall, paid him a visit to solicit his support for girl-child education, he acknowledged that change was always difficult to achieve in any society all over the world, not only in Nigeria.

 The Kano state House of Assembly had last month Kickstarted the process of probing Sanusi for among other reasons unduly citicising the President Muhammadu Buhari, All Progressives Congress, APC-led government.

The allegations bordered on defamation of character; breach of oath of office/oath of allegiance; abuse of office privileges and protocol; political and religious interference; unguarded utterances, misappropriation of public funds; misrepresentation at public gatherings.

It however took the intervention of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo; former military president, Ibrahim Babangida; ex-head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, for the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to prevail on the Kano assembly to suspend the probe.

But addressing the UNICEF Country Representative at his palace, Sanusi said, “Change is always difficult in any society; not only in Kano or in Nigeria but the world at large. Once, you want to bring change, especially that, which has to do with the old tradition, it always meets with resistance from the society.

“I’m very aware of this, but that will never discourage me in my drive toward change. I know that there are a lot of people in the society that really understand what I’m driving at.

“I’m therefore calling on everybody; the Ulama, the contractors, the students, the youth leaders, Muslims, especially you, the UNICEF, to come and rally round me as I am ready to pursue this agenda to a logical conclusion. I know I will succeed because the change is meant for the betterment of the society.’’

On girl-child education, the traditional ruler stated that people troop to his palace almost on a daily basis to lodge complaints about child abuse problems, regretting that the society had destroyed so many kids.

He also lamented that the problem revolved around parents not taking care of their children, adding that if parents were there for their kids, child abuse would be reduced.

Sanusi promised that the emirate council would give UNICEF the necessary support, particularly in the area of improving girl-child education, not only in Kano state but in the entire North.

Speaking earlier, Fall solicited the support of the Emir in addressing issues relating to child protection, survival and development in the country.

“I am here to assure you of my readiness to work with you to continue expanding what you have been doing in favour of children, not only in northern Nigeria but the country at large,” he stated.