Sanusi II: My Dethronement as Emir Helped Me Earn a PhD

Sanusi II: My Dethronement as Emir Helped Me Earn a PhD

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said his dethronement as Emir of Kano ultimately turned into an opportunity that helped him avoid possible humiliation and pursue further academic achievements, including earning a PhD.

The monarch made the remarks while speaking at the Fola Adeola Annual Ramadan Lecture, where he reflected on resilience, faith and the temporary nature of power.

Sanusi said many people mistakenly attribute their success or failure to powerful individuals, forgetting that life outcomes ultimately change by the will of God.

“Too often in our lives, we attribute things to human beings, but they are all created,” he said.

According to him, understanding that circumstances are temporary helps people remain calm and dignified during difficult periods rather than becoming desperate to please influential figures.

He warned against humiliating oneself in a bid to gain favour from powerful people, noting that such behaviour often stems from the belief that certain individuals control one’s destiny.

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“I’ve seen people who beg, cringe, and bow to human beings. They humiliate themselves because they feel this person holds the path to their position,” he said.

Sanusi used his own experiences to illustrate how setbacks can eventually lead to new opportunities.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria recalled that after he was suspended from his role at the apex bank in 2014, he was appointed Emir of Kano just three months later.

“I was suspended from being governor of the central bank. Three months later, I became an emir,” he said.

Sanusi also reflected on his removal from the throne in 2020 by the administration of former Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

He noted that although the development was widely debated across Nigeria, the period away from Kano allowed him to focus on scholarship and intellectual development.

“Several years ago I was removed as emir; four years later, I came back. I’m now in the same palace, on my throne,” he said.

Sanusi explained that the time away from the palace enabled him to concentrate on academic work and complete his doctoral degree.

“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,” he said.

“But God was merciful and kind. He took me away, gave me a chance to go and do a PhD, and now I’m back.”

Sanusi served as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014 before ascending the throne of the Kano Emirate.

He was dethroned in March 2020 by the Kano State Government but was reinstated in 2024 by the administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf after the state government repealed the law that had earlier fragmented the emirate.

The monarch emphasised that losing positions should not be seen as the end of a person’s purpose, urging people to remain steadfast in their faith, dignity and principles.

According to him, setbacks often prepare individuals for greater opportunities and growth.

Sanusi II: My Dethronement as Emir Helped Me Earn a PhD