Sanusi Breaks Silence on Controversial Remarks on Tinubu’s Policies: “We Are Paying a Price”

• Emir Muhammad Sanusi II has addressed the controversy over his comments on President Tinubu’s economic reforms
• He maintained that his words were misinterpreted and stressed his support for the Tinubu-led government’s policies
• Sanusi said his remarks supported Tinubu's reforms, while also acknowledging the sacrifices Nigerians were making due to past economic mismanagement

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The 16th Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms.

Sanusi II, who spoke earlier in the week during an event held in Lagos to honour the late human rights activist and legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, expressed disappointment over what he described as the sensationalisation and misrepresentation of his words.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal Government said "it is deeply disappointing" that President Tinubu's 'reforms', "widely recognised as essential by global experts—including Emir Sanusi II himself—are now being subtly condemned by him."

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“Settling personal scores”: Northern group blasts Emir Sanusi for criticising Tinubu's policies

Top Nigerian government official Mohammed Idris tied Sanusi's purported criticism to "a shift in loyalty"

The FG said it finds it "amusing" that Emir Sanusi would "publicly admit to shuffling off saying the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism."

Tinubu’s reforms: "My words, sensationalised" Sanusi

Clarifying his remarks, Sanusi II insisted that his statements were taken out of context, reducing the broader message of his speech to a single paragraph.

The Emir also insisted that his speech supported the government’s reforms while acknowledging the sacrifices Nigerians were enduring due to years of economic mismanagement.

“They took one paragraph out of context and sensationalized it,” Sanusi II said.

“Nothing about the nuanced support given to the government. That there are arguments supporting the reforms. That we are paying a price for decades of mismanagement before Tinubu. That there is light at the end of the tunnel. That we should all pray and support the system and talk about the good things happening.”

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As reported by Leadership, he stated that his remarks were ideologically charged but misunderstood, adding that his reference to “friends” in government was a coded message meant for specific individuals.

“There is just no point dragging the matter. Hopefully, at some point, those in government will recognize I was speaking for them in an ideologically charged environment,” he said.

Read more about Sanusi here:

• Kano Emirate tussle: “Settle with football match,” Shehu Sani tells Sanusi, Bayero
• Sanusi vs Bayero: “There can’t be 2 Emirs of Kano,” Falana declares
• “Settling personal scores”: Northern group blasts Emir Sanusi for criticising Tinubu's policies

Kano emirate: El-Rufai reacts as court delivers judgement

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that former Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal on the Kano emirate tussle.

El-Rufai congratulated Emir Sanusi over the ruling of the appellate court on Friday, January 10.

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“What Nigerians are going”: Apostle Suleman speaks on cause of economic hardship

He called on the National Judicial Council to discipline the erring judge of the Federal High Court for his erroneous and disgraceful judgment.

Source: Legit.ng