Immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was destined by Allah to become the new Emir of Kano, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has said.

“The selection of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir by the Kano emirate kingmakers was an act destined by Allah who alone gives leadership to whosoever He wishes,” ACF said in a statement issued in Kaduna and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim. “May Allah give the new Emir the wisdom and courage to see this new position as the father of Kano people and by extension Northerners and Nigerians at large. The new Emir should therefore bring his wealth of experience, competence and exposure to bear in uniting the royal family members and people of Kano for a peaceful transition and continuation of the good legacies of late Ado Bayero.”

The statement said that “ACF has an unflinching regard and respect to the traditional institutions as peace stabilisers, custodians of our core values, culture and customs, we therefore calls on HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to uphold the sanctity of the institution and consider his appointment as a rare opportunity to serve his people in this new capacity. We pray that Almighty Allah will protect and guide him and also bless his reign with peace, unity and development.”

Continuing, ACF stated: “The traditional institution of Kano is highly revered and respected not only by Kano people (Kanawas) but all Nigerians and even beyond our shores because of its rich cultural heritage and accommodation of all manners of people irrespective of their religious, political and tribal inclinations.

“ACF therefore calls on the good people of Kano to accept what has been decreed by Allah and extend their support and cooperation to the new emir for peace and tranquility to reign. Violence and destruction have never been a panacea to problem solving, rather it aggravates the problem and retard our progress as a Nation.

“ACF equally urges Nigerians to always seek for a peaceful and acceptable way of resolving disagreements or grievances for the overall benefit of the country.”

The ACF statement, a copy of which was made available to News Express, was issued yesterday – on a day when the police vacated the Emir’s Palace sealed off since Sanusi’s emergence on Monday, thus paving the way for him to relocate from the Government House, where he had been operating from, to the palace.

•Photo shows Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.