The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. Speaking at an event in Lagos earlier in the week, held to honor the late human rights activist and legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, Sanusi expressed his frustration over the sensationalization and misrepresentation of his statements.
Sanusi’s initial remarks caused a stir when he mentioned that he had decided “not to help the government” by explaining the benefits of the administration’s reforms. He was quoted saying, “I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explained, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government.” He also criticized the government’s communication strategies, noting the lack of credible messengers to explain the reforms.
These comments drew significant backlash, including from the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, who suggested that Sanusi was motivated by personal interests rather than national duty.
However, in his clarification, Sanusi II stated that his words were taken out of context. He emphasized that his original speech actually supported the government’s reforms while acknowledging the hardships Nigerians are facing due to long-standing economic mismanagement. “They took one paragraph out of context and sensationalized it,” Sanusi explained. He pointed out that his speech included support for the reforms, the sacrifices being made, and the potential positive outcomes if the reforms continue.
Sanusi highlighted that his remarks were meant to provide a counter-narrative to the criticism of the government at the event, suggesting his comments were ideologically charged but misinterpreted. He referred to “friends” in government as a coded message aimed at specific individuals, indicating a more nuanced stance than what was reported.
Despite the controversy, Sanusi urged the public to look beyond the current debate, saying, “This too shall come to pass,” encouraging a focus on moving forward and supporting the system for the betterment of Nigeria.
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