Even as the Ganduje government insists that a former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, remains banished, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has appointed him into the board of Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).
Sanusi was deposed on Monday by the Ganduje government, which cited insubordination, among other reasons.
It then banished Sanusi to Nasarawa State.
While Sanusi’s lawyers have said the would contest the banishment in court, the El-Rufai government on Tuesday announced the appointment, in a way that, observers note, seems to be a tacit disapproval of the way the Abdullahi Ganduje administration treated the former monarch and top banker.
KE-Rufai made the appointment known in a press statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday.
The statement was signed by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye.
The statement read, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has appointed His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II into the board of KADIPA.
“The appointment is part of the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, which is statutorily chaired by the Deputy Governor and has as internal members senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.
“Governor El-Rufai said that Kaduna State hopes to benefit from the profile, experience, intellect, and networks of His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi, who before becoming Emir, had built a solid reputation in global financial circles.
“Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development.
“The Governor also said that he is confident that the new board, which includes the most senior officers of the state will further propel KADIPA to greater success in attracting investments to Kaduna State.
“He disclosed that the external members have been carefully chosen to further reinforce the investment credentials of the state.”
Established in 2015, KADIPA has, according to the government, led the investment drive of the state and anchored implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Charter that earned Kaduna State World Bank recognition as the Number One place for doing business in Nigeria.
