The deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, expressed his support for the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) decision to relocate some of its departments from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to Lagos State.
Sanusi dismissed the objections raised by Northern politicians, describing them as mere "noise."
Sanusi stated that the relocation is not a Northern issue but rather a principled decision that should be upheld by the relevant authorities.
He urged CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso to prioritise empathy and consideration for individual situations, particularly mentioning mothers with children and those facing medical issues.
The former emir stated, "Individual situations should be considered. As much as possible, we should be empathetic. For example, young mothers with kids in school who do not need to move can be prioritised to stay in Abuja or those with medical conditions, etc."
Sanusi advised Governor Cardoso to proceed with the relocation policy, cautioning against succumbing to political pressure. He argued that bending to such pressure could set a precedent for further interference in the CBN's decisions.
"When I was about to license Jaiz Bank, there was a lot of religious noise from CAN, etc. Even enlightened people like Okey Emelamah were going to sue me to court on religious grounds. I ignored it and licensed the bank. Nothing happened," Sanusi recalled, highlighting the importance of standing firm on principled decisions.
He further noted that similar religious objections occurred when a Christian governor, succeeding him, licensed at least two more non-interest banks without significant controversy.