Kano Crisis: Civil Society Groups Urge US To Impose Visa Ban On Governor Abba Yusuf And Cabinet Over Emirate Dispute

Kano Crisis: Civil Society Groups Urge US To Impose Visa Ban On Governor Abba Yusuf And Cabinet Over Emirate DisputeA coalition of civil society organizations in Kano State, under the banner of Save Kano Coalition, has urged the United States and other international entities to impose visa restrictions on Governor Abba Yusuf and his cabinet. The group claims that the governor’s actions in the ongoing Kano Emirate crisis have led to division within the state.

The Kano State House of Assembly recently repealed the State Emirate Council Law 2019, dissolving the five emirates. Governor Yusuf then reinstated former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, as Emir of Kano, who had been dethroned in 2020.

This move has sparked controversy statewide, with conflicting court orders adding to the turmoil. Reacting to the crisis, the Kano CSO stated that the Emirate dispute has caused chaos that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.

In a petition dated June 28, 2024, and signed by its convener, Aminu Abdullah, the Coalition called on the U.S. ambassador to sanction the governor.

“We call for stringent sanctions against the Abba Yusuf-led government in Kano State until he complies with court orders and ceases all anti-democratic practices.

We also demand travel bans and visa restrictions for the governor and his top cabinet members.

We urge international organizations and donor agencies to blacklist the Kano government from grants and partnerships, as their interests can no longer be guaranteed in the volatile environment created by the government’s actions,” the group stated.