Nigeria's emir of Kano, an influential Muslim monarch, was formally installed Saturday in a lavish ceremony in the ancient northern city.
Women ululated as the sound of drums, trumpets and flutes filled the air, and royal gunmen fired several volleys to mark the coronation of Muhammad Sanusi II.
The emir received his symbol of authority, a silver staff, from Kano state governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in a 1,200-capacity hall specially built for the occasion.
Sanusi becomes one of Nigeria's top Islamic authorities, reigning in the largest city in the country's mainly Muslim north.
Kano's 57th emir in a succession going back to the 10th century succeeds Ado Bayero, who died last June after 51 years on the throne.
Born Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the new emir was previously the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria before he was suspended in February last year on charges of financial impropriety.
The move by President Goodluck Jonathan -- effectively a sacking as Sanusi's term was ending -- was widely seen as politically motivated.
Sanusi had claimed that the state oil company misused nearly $20 billion (more than 17 billion euros) in public funds in 2012 and 2013.
News of Sanusi's appointment last year sparked days of street protests in Kano by the supporters of Bayero's eldest son, who was also a contender for the royal title.
But Kano state government officials attributed the delay in the new emir's coronation -- or "turbaning" -- to the need to build the new venue, dubbed Coronation Hall.
Thousands of Kano residents tried to get in, but scores of armed security personnel allowed access only to guests with printed invitations.
The four "kingmakers" -- members of the emir's court who decide on the appointment -- presented Sanusi with royal heirlooms, including a sword and a sceptre.
"I call on you to roll up our sleeves and face the problems confronting us in the areas of security and education, especially girl child education, health and the economy," he said.
The new emir appealed for peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections set for February 14.
"In the forthcoming elections, we call on politicians to conduct it in peace," he said.
"And they should desist from whatever that will breach the peace in the country," he said.
Violence linked to Islamist insurgents in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation prompted the electoral commission on Saturday to mull a delay to voting of at least six weeks.
Security guards battled to contain a surging crowd waiting outside the venue throughout Saturday's two-hour ceremony, after which the emir left in an open convertible for his palace.
No comments:
Post a Comment