Many believed the dethronement and banishment of the embattled former Kano Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was unjustifiable and indeed a breach of the fundamental human rights as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Since his dethronement and subsequent banishment to Nasarawa State, many lawyers, especially Senior Advocates of Nigeria, are taking sides. It's clear that majority of scholars in the Bar are totally against the step taken by Kano State Government, citing lack of fair hearing, unjustified claim, breach of human rights, and a host of others.

For many discerning Nigerians, it is not a surprise that this is happening as the embattled emir and the Kano governor has never been on the same side ever since the election of Ganduje in 2015, as second-time deputy to Kwakwanso, who enthroned Sanusi as the Emir of Kano in 2014.

Leaving both personal and governance differences aside, what the former emir was alleged to have done was his outspoken nature and apparent disrespect to constituted authority. He was said to have indulged in speaking in English in the public, instead of conversing in the traditional Hausa Language, being the top-most leader of the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group in Kano and a custodian of their culture. No doubt, the government was right. There were instances cited by the government, when the former emir boycotted government function. No doubt, the KanoState government was also right.

What is not right in this whole matter is the incarceration of a personality who has consistently spoken truth to power. Many Nigerians love Sanusi not because he's an emir but, because, he is a human right fighter and an erudite economic scholar. What Sanusi has said about the way and manner the country has been ruled instead of bein governed was nothing but the truth.

From the emancipation of women campaign which he has engaged in, to saying things as they are in matters relating to our dear country, has been a tremendous footprint which can never be erased from the sands of time.

What befell the former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was not a matter of saying the truth, but a question of who is saying it. If such an influential personality cannot say the truth, just because the traditional custom did not allow it, who then have the voice that can shake the drowsy government from the dust and jolt them out of perpetual slumber?

• Oluwaseun can be reached viaOluwaseunadegbile1@gmail.com