•Bags Highest Islamic Title In NIGERIA
Highly revered former Emir of Kano, Sanusi. Lamido. Sanusi. SLS is a name that evokes a lot of emotions in the world’s most populous black nation. Call him the Tsunami of the banking sector in his days of yore when he held sway as CBN governor, and you will simply be stating the obvious. Sanusi Lamido is the influential former Emir of Kano who was turbaned in the year 2014. Despite that he was deposed, he remains one of the most relevant northern top shots in history. Just about a year after his deposition, he bounced back big time and has been honored with many appointments, titles and most recently, the highest Islamic title in Africa.
He has made a great name for himself in all his career life and has also written his name in the sands of time. Credible and unforgivably blunt are some of the words to aptly describe the no-nonsense former Emir who loves to take whatever he does seriously. His intimidating CV and astounding qualifications set him apart from his contemporaries, None or little of his private life were in the face of the public but ever since he has been in the news from his exit as the former CBN Governor and status as the former Emir of Kano, his family life has been brought to the open. Known to have been a man of style, becoming an emir and afterwards has not taken off those qualities. Even when you meet him for the first time, you will be shocked that he looks younger, fit and his royal garbs are always out of this world with his matching shoes.
To the northern caliphate, Sanusi Lamido’s legacy will forever be cherished and no wonder, they bestowed on him an Islamic highest title which even makes him more superior than an emir. Since he was deposed, his relevance in the north has not diminished, in fact, his removal did not go down well with the big shots in the north, especially in Kano, Sokoto and Katsina.
On his turbaning for his new title, you would mistake the day for a political rally, but no, it was the reception of the new leader of Tijjaniyya, the former Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi in Sokoto. The Tijjaniyya is an Islamic sect with an apparently huge following in the north and with Sanusi II as its new leader, the group prayed for peace to return to Nigeria and particularly put an end to insurgency in the north. This occurred on a Friday at the annual gathering of the sect in Sokoto. The Tijjaniyya sect has members across West, North and East Africa. Sanusi’s grandfather, who was also Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I, was the first leader of the sect in Nigeria.
After his death, the sect broke into two factions following the selection of Isiyaka Rabiu as his successor. The other faction rallied behind Dahiru Bauchi and stuck to its different ways until Mr Rabiu’s death. On that same day, Friday, members and leaders of the two factions met in Sokoto and selected Sanusi as the group’s new leader.
The selection of Sanusi as the new leader of Dhariqatul Tijjaniyya group will surely reunite the sect again thereby making former Emir of Kano the new Caliph, Khalifa of the group in Nigeria. The position was previously held by Sanusi Lamido’s grandfather, the late Emir of Kano, Khalifa Sheikh Muhammadu Sanusi I before it was later held by a late business mogul and Islamic Preacher, Alhaji Sheikh Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu.
Since the demise of late Alhaji Rabiu in 2018, the group has not been able to appoint a successor until when the grandson, Sanusi II of the first Khalifa, was unanimously appointed few weeks back.
It was also gathered that the Sanusi’s appointment and turbaning as the new leader was performed by Sheikh Makki Nyass, grandson of Shehu Ibrahim Nyass, during the annual Maulud festival in Sokoto to mark the birthday (Maolud) of the popular world Islamic leader and distinguished clergyman and reformer known as Shehul Islam (Sheikh of Islam).
Dignitaries from all parts of the country, Africa and the world where prominent Islamic scholars, clerics and preachers from Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Senegal, Saudia, Cameroon, United States of America, United Kingdom (UK), Mali, Egypt and other European countries also graced the Maulud.
The former emir of Kano serves as the leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order in Nigeria, historically the second most important Muslim position in Nigeria after the Sultan of Sokoto who is the leader of the more populous Qadiriyya Sufi order in Nigeria which has now been bestowed on Sanusi. This has made him more influential and powerful thus continues to be a source of authority and influence throughout Northern Nigeria. That the former Emir of Kano still lives big is like stating the obvious because he has all that money can buy. Many people look up to him and his philanthropic gesture to his people has warmed much heart towards him. Being a powerful and influential being amongst the rest makes prominent individual looks for his attention. He attends parties but goes to the very top-notch ones. He lives in affluence and it shows in all aspects of his life.
The man who has achieved success in all his endeavors is also doing well on his home front. According to Islamic injunctions which he greatly believes in, he married 4 wives who are Sadiya one of the daughters of the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, his second wife is Maryam while his 3rd wife is Rakiya, and the 4th wife is Saadatu, daughter of Alhaji Musdafa. He also has 12 children, which consists of 5 suave sons and 7 pretty daughters. The man who loves to be associated with good things of life surely knows what is best for him when he married some of the beautiful ladies from the north as wives. Each of the 4 wives bore him 4 children each and his 1st born is Mohammed who always accompanies his mother, Sadiya to many social functions. Also, some of his daughters are Yusra and mufida amongst others. The man who all his children were born in Lagos says in one of his interviews, “I am a Lagos boy as well and my children were all given birth to and groomed in Lagos”.
Malam Sanusi was a successful banker and was a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He was appointed on 3 June 2009 for a five-year term. Malam Sanusi is the grandson of Muhammadu Sanusi (The 11th Fulani Emir of Kano ) He was a career banker and ranking Fulani nobleman, and also serves as a respected Islamic scholar. The global financial intelligence magazine, The Banker, published by the Financial Times, has conferred on Sanusi two awards, the global award for Central Bank Governor of the Year, as well as for Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa. The TIME magazine also listed Sanusi in its TIMES 100 list of most influential people of 2011.
He had his primary school education at the St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Kakuri, Kaduna where he got his First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC then he had his high school education at the King’s College, Lagos from 1973 to 1977. He was admitted in 1977 to the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State where he finished with a degree in Economics in 1981 and later he was off to the International University of Africa, Khartoum, Sudan and got a degree in Islamic Law. He did his national youth service (NYSC) at the old Gongola State (now Taraba and Adamawa States) after graduating from ABU and later registered for his master’s degree programme in Developmental Economics at the same ABU and he finished in 1983 with a distinction in Monetary Policy. He was a lecturer of economics at ABU. It was after his brief teaching career that he veered off to banking and he spent 29 years in the banking sector before he became the Emir of Kano. He has worked with Icon Limited (Merchant Bankers), a subsidiary of Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank of New York, and Baring Brothers of London. He moved to the United Bank for Africa in 1997 in the Credit and Risk Management Division, rising to the position of a General Manager. In September 2005, he joined the Board of First Bank of Nigeria as an Executive Director in charge of Risk and Management Control and was appointed Group Managing Director (CEO) in January 2009. He was also the Chairman, Kakawa Discount House and sat on the Board of FBN Bank (UK) Limited. Sanusi is recognized in the banking industry for his contribution towards developing a risk management culture in Nigeria. Sanusi was the first northerner to be appointed CEO in First Bank’s history of more than a century.
The Lamido of Adamawa has surely bounced back big time as many prominent Nigerians are jostling to be in his good books again.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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