El-Rufai Sacks Chief Of Staff After Calling Lamido Sanusi ‘Former Emir Of Kano’

Weeks after referring to Lamido Sanusi as a “former Emir of Kano,” Governor Nasir El-Rufai has removed his chief of staff.

When speaking at the Kaduna Investment Summit in September, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi introduced Mr Sanusi as a former emir. Mr Sanusi, who was deposed by Abdulahi Ganduje in March 2019 due to corruption charges, reacted angrily to the term, claiming that he was not a former emir.

“When I listened to the chief of staff…I will call him former chief of staff…you will understand why I call you ‘former’ later,” Mr Sanusi said when he took the microphone at the event. “Next time don’t call me ‘former Emir.’ There is nothing like that.” A video of the exchanges has drawn social media comments since Mr Sani Abdullahi was removed from office.

Mr. Sani Abdullahi, Mr. El-chief Rufai’s of staff since 2019, was fired on Monday during a cabinet reshuffle by Mr. El-Rufai. Following that, he was assigned to the ministry of planning and budget, where he would serve as commissioner.

It was unclear whether Mr Sani Abdullahi’s dismissal as chief of staff was orchestrated by Mr Sanusi, who has remained politically influential and close to Mr El-Rufai. On Tuesday afternoon, a request for comment from the governor’s spokeswoman was not immediately returned.