THE 16th Fulani Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent comments on President Bola 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.
The monarch’s initial remarks sparked nationwide reactions after he stated that he had chosen “not to help the government” by explaining benefits of the administration’s reforms.
“I have decided not to speak about the economy or the reforms, nor to explain anything regarding them. If I explained, it would only benefit this government, and I don’t want to aid this government,” he was quoted as saying.
His statement also included sharp criticism of the government’s communication strategies. “They don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they’re doing. But I’m not going to help,” he added.
The comments drew public backlash, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, accusing Sanusi II of prioritising personal interests over national duty.
“We find it amusing that a leader, more so one from an institution that ennobles forthrightness, fairness, and justice, would publicly admit to shuffling off telling the truth because of personal interest hinged on imaginary antagonism,” Mohammed said in a statement on Thursday.
But, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle Saturday, Sanusi II clarified that his remarks were taken out of context, reducing the broader message of his speech to a single paragraph.
He 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.”
He also emphasised that his speech served as a counter-narrative to critiques of the government during the event.
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.
Despite the backlash, Sanusi II urged Nigerians to move forward, noting that, “This too shall come to pass.”