El-Rufai visits Sanusi in Nasarawa State in first meeting between them since Monday's dethronement

GOVERNOR Nasir El-Rufai paid a courtesy visit to former emir of Kano Alhaji Lamido Sanusi in Awe town in Nasarawa State today in what was their first meeting since the monarch was dethroned by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

On Monday, Governor Ganduje deposed Alhaji Sanusi for insubordination and named Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the new emir of Kano. Immediately he was deposed, Alhaji Sanusi was flown to Abuja from where he was driven to Nasarawa State where he was first held in the town of Loko before being transferred to his current location in Awe.

Alhaji Sanusi and Governor El-Rufai have developed a close rapport, however and in a show of solidarity, the governor appointed him as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University and the vice chairman of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (Kadipa). Deputy governor Hadiza Balarabe, chairs Kadipa, which has a mandate to attract investment into the state.

In a further show of solidarity, Governor El-Rufai visited the former monarch and Central Bank of Nigeria governor this morning. He arrived in Awe where the two men met and embraced before sitting down to talk for several hours.

This morning, Alhaji Sanusi won a court case in which his detention in Nasarawa State was deemed illegal, meaning that he is now free to leave Awe. He had initially wanted to go to Lagos where his family resides but it is not yet clear if he will now do that or go to Kaduna to take up his appointments.