The Kano State government, on Tuesday, created three second-class emirates, subject to the authority of the Emir of Kano.

The new emirates, as contained in the Kano State Emirates Council Bill 2024, signed into law on Tuesday by Governor Abba Yusuf, were Rano, Gaya and Karaye.

The Kano State House of Assembly, in 2019, removed 36 local government areas from the Kano Emirate to create four new emirates, Rano, Gaya, Karaye and Bichi, leaving eight local government areas for Kano Emirate.

The bill was signed into law by ex-Governor Umar Ganduje as the Kano emirate split into five.

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The Assembly, on May 23, 2024, however, repealed the law creating five emirates, returned Kano to its original status and sacked all the emirs appointed to head the emirates.

On May 24, 2024, Yusuf reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano, while the deposed Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, went to court to seek legal redress.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Kano State High Court validated the processes that led to the abolition of the five emirates and the sack of the emirs and ordered the deposed emirs to restrain from parading as emirs in the state.

Following the judgment, the state House of Assembly, on Tuesday, began hearing the Kano State Emirates Council Establishment Bill 2024, setting the stage for the creation of three additional second-class emirates.

Championed by Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Bututu, the bill aimed to elevate Kano’s status to that of a first-class emirate, with Rano, Gaya, and Karaye identified as second-class emirates.

During a session presided over by the Speaker, Jibrin Falgore, the bill passed the first, second and third reading and was passed for assent by the governor.

As stipulated in the bill, the newly established Rano emirate will encompass Rano, Bunkure, and Kibiya local government areas.

The Gaya emirate will include Gaya, Albasu, and Ajingi local government areas, while the Karaye emirate will cover Karaye and Rogo local government areas.

The second-class emirs of the emirates would be answerable to the Emir of Kano and possess the authority to counsel the emir on matters concerning public order, territorial disputes, communal conflicts, and religious affairs within their respective domains.

After the passage of the bill, Yusuf assented to it on Tuesday evening, allowing for the establishment of the second-class emirates within the state.

A statement by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, said, “This development underscores our unwavering commitment to preserving our traditional institutions and cultural heritage, recognising them as essential pillars of peace and heritage conservation.”

The governor urged the newly established emirates to diligently serve humanity, adding that the government would soon reveal the names of the new emirs.