As he returned to the throne in a vibrant rite, Nigeria’s influential Emir of Kano addressed the nation who deposed him 4 years in the past.

Those that expelled Muhammadu Sanusi II from his position as a standard Muslim chief within the northern order of Kano weren’t use speaking about, he stated on Friday.

Mr Sanusi was once ousted in 2020 for appearing “insubordination” to the authorities there.

His supporters believe he was sacked as he opposed the re-election of Kano’s then governor.

Mr Sanusi, an ex-central bank chief, was reappointed by current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at Kano State Government house on Friday.

During his 2023 campaign to become governor, Mr Yusuf had pledged to bring Mr Sanusi back as emir.

He said that by dethroning Mr Sanusi, the authorities had violated Kano’s centuries-old tradition of emir rule.

Traditional leaders in Nigeria hold few constitutional powers but are able to exert significant influence as they are seen as custodians of both religion and tradition.

At Friday’s ceremony, Mr Sanusi expressed his gratitude to the state governor, state legislators and the people of Kano as a whole.

Of those that deposed him in 2020, Mr Sanusi said: “Those that did that aren’t valuable of me speaking about what they did.”

But just hours before the event, it was unclear whether Mr Sanusi’s reinstatement ceremony would actually go ahead.

The Federal High Court had issued a last-minute order stopping the state government from abolishing all five emirates created during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and returning to the system where only one emir ruled Kano.

The ruling was a response to an application from Aminu Babba Dan Agundu, a Kano emirate official who opposed moving back to the old system.

However, Mr Yusuf said he did not recognise the ruling.

Referencing reports that the High Court judge was based in the US, Mr Yusuf said at the ceremony: “Believe a pass judgement on in The united states ordering us to halt the coronation of the Emir of Kano, Sanusi. Our rules are in park and they are going to now not exchange.”

Mr Sanusi became the 14th Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of Ado Bayero.

From 2017 onwards, he had frosty relations with then-Governor Ganduje.

He was sacked in 2020, with the government accusing him of “overall disrespect” towards the local institutions.

The government then created five new emirates in the state and appointed Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the new emir in Kano.

On Thursday, the day before Mr Sanusi returned to the throne, the Kano State House of Assembly abolished the five former emirates.

That same day, Governor Yusuf signed the law and gave the emirs of the abolished emirates a 48 hours to vacate their palaces.

On the streets of Kano, the reaction was mixed.

Resident Idris SR Dawanau told the BBC on Friday: “I’m extraordinarily satisfied concerning the reinstatement of [Sanusi] nowadays.

“I wish him well and hope he continues to contribute positively as he always has.”

However fellow resident Lawal Najeef criticised the journey: “In my opinion, leaving all the emirs in place without removing any would have been better because it makes things easier.

“For instance, when you have an emir close by, nation can travel to him with their problems with no need to move a long way.”