- The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, said Nigeria has had lousy leaders for a long time and the country is still engaged in “pettiness”
- Sanusi said Nigeria is still stuck in religious and tribal discussions while other countries focus on developmental issues
- The monarch asserted that “you cannot give what you do not have until we begin to look at the people who we choose to lead us”
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs and governance.
Kano, Kano state – Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, has lamented that Nigeria has not been fortunate with quality leaders for a long time.
As reported by Daily Trust, Sanusi said the country has been having “lousy” leaders for many years.
Photo credit: @NigeriaStories
Source: Twitter
The first-class monarch spoke on Saturday, September 13, at the second Kano International Poetry Festival (KAPFEST) in Kano.

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Sanusi blasts Nigerian politicians
According to Sanusi, genuine good governance is key to the salvaging the country from its current ‘unpleasant’ condition.
His words:
“You rise and fall with the quality of your leadership and Nigeria has had lousy leadership for a long time. You cannot give what you do not have until we begin to look at the people who we choose to lead us. And that’s the truth.”
Sanusi added:
“You see the kind of debates that we are having, the kind of arguments that we have, the kind of time we waste on issues that are totally unimportant, the pettiness. You look at other countries, you look at other parts of the world, people are discussing climate change, discussing artificial intelligence. We are still talking about Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa, Northern or Christian, you know, that is, we are still mired in that debate. We are still in conversations that we had in the 1960s.”
Legit.ng reports that many Nigerians often complain about bad governance, corruption and the increasing cost of living.
In May 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu became president of Nigeria. In the year since, Nigerians have grappled with unprecedented economic hardships owing to his decision to remove a fuel subsidy, which was introduced in the 1970s to keep petrol affordable and help the naira increase in value.
Although experts say Tinubu’s move will help rejuvenate Nigeria’s economy, it has had a biting effect on ordinary citizens.
Read more on Kano Emir Sanusi:
Kano Emir Sanusi earns PhD
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Kano Emirate Council congratulated Sanusi on his recent conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
The council described the milestone as a source of immense pride for the Emirate, the people of Kano, and Nigeria as a whole, adding that it reinforces the country’s reputation for producing visionary leaders rooted in knowledge and wisdom.
Source: Legit.ng