STORM IN TINY TEACUP: As is usual with him, our Amir, Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II, is in the eye of another storm; in fact, it seems as if it is the storm that is in his eye. But it is a storm in a teacup, and the teacup is a ‘finjali’ – that tiny little miniscule cup the content of which one can swallow in one gulp, or gulp in one swallow. So calm down Storm. Or else know that this Amir, this Emir, has friends in high and low and middle places. And friends stand by their friends and pray for them. We stand by and pray for Muhammad Sanusi II, our Amir, our King. He may have his shortcomings, he may have his weaknesses, but so do all of us. And in fact Storm may have more follies and foibles than its intended target. As for me, in sha Allah, through this and other storms, #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

FRIEND BROTHER AND COLLEAGUE: Sarki Sanusi and I come a long way. Way back perhaps forty years. It used to be as recruits of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN). Then we were brothers, brazas, as in ‘Yan Braza’. And at that time we would wonder what’s wrong with this Sanusi who wants to join us and overthrow the “system” like every radical! We then ‘graduated’ into (and still belong to, I suppose) the Jamaátu Tajdidil Islam (JTI), the Sunni Faction of the Islamic Movement (the smaller rump of which turned a corner and went left to become the Shiá of today). So we are still brothers, brazas, and friends. And he was, and still is, a colleague writer, commentator and analyst. And his writing has gotten him into many troubles. As his speech. But did he write or speak a lie? No. He was speaking and writing futuristically. Ahead of his time. Which is not understood. Or appreciated. Despite that, #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

QADIRI TIJJANI AND IZALI: Our Amir fits every cap. And cup. Including teacup. Big and small. He has been linked to the weirdest of beliefs. Our great-great parents, from the time of the Jihad, were known to be Qadiris, followers of the Sufi Tariqa of Shaikh AbdulQadir Jilani, whose second ‘home’ should be Kano. Had Sanusi’s great-grandfather not taken to Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya would have been the Royal Sect. All the same, town-criers have always reminded us what Kano is: “Yekuwa Jamaár Qadirawa! Sarki ya gaishe ku!” Qadiriyya House, which stands prominently by the Palace, still offers the Royal Tafsir, but he is a BaTijjane seen to be closer to Izala than Sufism. In fact, he has even been accused of Shiá tendencies – as many of us have been. Reason? Understanding and analysing global politics without prejudice. So we all are all, like him, SalaSufis! Therefore #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

LAGOS BOY KANO KING: He went to King’s College. Yes, he did. So when he says “I’m a Lagos Boy”, we laugh. For indeed he is a Kano Boy. Molded as it were by Kaduna, Lagos, Zaria and lately Abuja. Yes, he speaks like a Lagos Boy, but he is not such as “Loud in Lagos.” A sage once said “The fish has to jump into the air to know the water.” So he jumped, as a fish, up into St. Anne’s and down into King’s College. To know the water. And made friends from all sides. Which we all need. And now he knows the water. And lo and behold! The water is Kano. And Kano will continue to claim him, warts and all, controversial or not. So, all, allow us to ‘correct’ our boy, Kano boy, Lagos boy. And to think he went to jail for being a ‘fundamentalist!’ Kai! #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

A LITTLE TOO MUCH: Some of our colleagues and friends tell us, “That your Emir is a little too much!” Of course he is! And so is Kano! As if it needs repeating – Kano is a little too much! Imagine – a little too many adaidaitasahu tricycles clogging our roads; a little many pure water bags clogging our drainages; a little too many drugs addicts; a little too many rapes of minors; a little too many almajiris; a little too much and a little too many. Hey! We had an Aminu Kano, a Rimi, a Sabo Bakinzuwo, a Kwankwaso, a Shekarau, even a Kalarawi – each one a little too much in his own way. Yes, Kano can accommodate a little too much, it is in our nature. We love our ‘A Little Too Much’ King! And so #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

THE TRADITIONAL VERSUS POLITICAL: Any day, any time, any moment I would rather this outspoken ‘little too much’ Traditional Ruler than the hypocritical, thieving and good-for-nothing so-called leaders who rigged themselves into office and who don’t understand what I need, and don’t care, and don’t ask me about it, and don’t know what to do about nothing. A little too much? I would rather my whole year’s national budget is with this Tradition rather than with those Moderns. Yes, he will Roll a Royce, but that’s OK, some have already got private jets. After all, aren’t those moderns rolling all over us, pompously. Leaving poverty in their wake! If they will roll anything good, let them roll a rice, some bags of it. Towards us. Ramadan is nigh! No matter! #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

SOKOTO KANO TO BORNO: Not for nothing did the Good Lord situate Kano almost exactly between Sokoto and Borno, about 600 kilometres each way. You say my Amir is flamboyant? Of course! Don’t we look East to Borno for our wardrobe – towards “Na Shehu Larabawan…”? Be reminded many centuries ago we, Kano, were under Borno Colonial Rule and the Gidan Shettima (the Colonial Resident’s Residence) is still here to remind us. As well as our Fulata-Borno heritage, the King and I and many others. And then we look West to Sokoto for spirituality. Simplicity. Piety. And we have all. In sha Allah. Or do you want to tell me my Amir is not also simple? And humble? Then you don’t know him. Wallahi. Simplicity and humility do not necessarily approximate tattered-ness. Someone must look the part of the Centre of Commerce. Meanwhile, #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

WE AGREE SOMETIMES DISAGREE: I have had cause to disagree with this Amir of mine – as Braza to Braza, and as Writer to Writer. It is in his nature to be what is natural of him to be. Let me tell you what Zik once said about Mallam Aminu Kano so long ago: “Aminu, you are so protestant that were you to be elected president you would one day come out in protest against your own government until we tell you that you are the president!” Such is the nature of some people – to agitate and protest and wail and lament even against their own selves. If you have not read psychoanalysis to understand these people, now is the time to do so. They rave and rant and rattle – but they will come back to reality. Yes, they are a little too much, yet #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII.

YES, ENOUGH SAID SIRE: All said and done and written, Sire, do as you have done with opinion writing when you lifted your pen off from those controversial articles which pitted you against many (and robbed some banks of massive deposits). Now is the time to lift up further that Amawali. You are not understood, and you will not be in the near and middle future. Tarry a while while they catch up. Do your Black Rhino and bring all those juicy developments to Kano and Nigeria. Silently. We need them. We need you. With your Amawali pim! So, ‘MATA KU DAU TURAME’ for another purpose! As for me, #IStandWithMuhammadSanusiII!