Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan stirred reactions and laughter on Tuesday after referring to the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, as “my good friend” during a public event.
Jonathan made the remark at the launch of a memoir titled My Life of Duty and Allegiance, written by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.
According to reports, the audience burst into laughter shortly after the former president made the statement, forcing Jonathan, who chaired the occasion, to briefly pause before continuing his speech.
Jonathan and Sanusi were known to have had a strained relationship during the latter’s tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The disagreement became public in February 2014 after Sanusi appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance and alleged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit nearly $20 billion to the federation account.
The allegation triggered nationwide controversy and further deepened tensions between the former president and the then CBN governor.
Jonathan later suspended Sanusi from office over allegations of financial recklessness and misconduct in the management of the apex bank.
Following his suspension from the CBN, Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano in 2014 after the death of the late Ado Bayero.
Sanusi’s appointment was approved by the Kano State Government under the administration of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a move that returned him to national prominence as a traditional ruler.
Experienced broadcast journalist with over 5 years of experience in reporting, multimedia editing, and storytelling across both traditional and digital media. I currently work with Vision FM 92.1 and Daily Frontier, where I report on security, conflict, and humanitarian issues, while also translating news into Hausa and Pidgin to reach wider audiences.
I also serve as a correspondent for Daily Frontier in Plateau and Benue States, Nigeria, covering security, conflict, and humanitarian developments in the region.
I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication from Adamawa State Polytechnic and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the National Open University of Nigeria.
