Why I Don’t Want to Help Tinubu Government — Emir Sanusi II

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has declared that he will no longer assist President Bola Tinubu’s administration in communicating the benefits of its economic reforms to Nigerians. Speaking at the 2025 Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture, the former Central Bank Governor attributed his decision to the government’s unfriendly stance towards him and its lack of credible representatives to articulate its policies.

“I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explain, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government. I choose not to help this government. They are my friends, but if they fail to act like friends, I will not act like one,” he stated.

Sanusi criticized the administration’s inability to address the country’s economic challenges effectively, highlighting the consequences of decades of economic mismanagement. “What we are going through today is at least in part, not totally, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management. People were warned decades ago that if they continued down this path, this is where they would end up. They chose not to listen,” he said.

While acknowledging that not all of the government’s actions are correct, he emphasized that he would only engage in discussions on the economy when the government demonstrates readiness. “For now, I am here to honour Chief Gani Fawehinmi,” he noted.

The Emir also urged Nigerians to reflect on their values and return to principles of integrity and hard work, which he said defined Fawehinmi’s legacy. “Do we truly possess those values? Are we genuinely committed to our work? What is the integrity with which we approach our tasks?” he asked.

He warned against superficial distinctions like ethnicity, religion, or social status, asserting that character defines identity. “If you are a thief, you are a thief—whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Muslim, Christian, a lawyer, or otherwise. That is your identity,” Sanusi remarked, calling for a collective return to meaningful values and ethical conduct.