Muhammadu Sanusi II | |||||||||
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Emir of Kano | |||||||||
1st reign | 8 June 2014 – 9 March 2020 | ||||||||
Coronation | 7 February 2015 | ||||||||
Predecessor | Ado Bayero | ||||||||
Successor | Aminu Ado Bayero | ||||||||
2nd reign | 23 May 2024 – present | ||||||||
Predecessor | Aminu Ado Bayero | ||||||||
Born | Kano, Nigeria | 31 July 1961||||||||
Spouse | List
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Issue | List
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House | Dabo | ||||||||
Father | Lamido Aminu Sanusi, Chiroman Kano | ||||||||
Mother | Saudatu Hussain | ||||||||
Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria | |||||||||
In office 3 June 2009 – 20 February 2014 | |||||||||
President | Umaru Yar'Adua Goodluck Jonathan | ||||||||
Preceded by | Charles Soludo | ||||||||
Succeeded by | Sarah Alade (acting) | ||||||||
Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON (Ajami: محمد السنوسي, Muhammadu Sanusi na biyu (; born 31 July 1961), )[1] known by the religious title Khalifa Sanusi II (Ajami: خليفة السنوسي), is the spiritual leader (khalifa) of the Tijanniyah Sufi order in Nigeria and the emir (Sarki) of the ancient city-state of Kano.[2] He is a member of the Dabo dynasty and the grandson of Muhammadu Sanusi I. He succeeded his great-uncle Ado Bayero to the throne on 8 June 2014, assuming the regnal name Muhammadu Sanusi II. He spent most of his reign advocating for cultural reform in Northern Nigeria.[3] In 2020, he was deposed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and was succeeded by his cousin Aminu Ado Bayero.[4] On 23 May 2024, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reinstated him.[5][6]
Sanusi is a prominent traditional and religious figure in West Africa. As the Khalifa of the Tijaniyyah Sufi order of Nigeria and the neighbouring countries, he arguably has a politico-spiritual authority over the second largest Sufi order, with over 50 million adherents.[7] He grew up in the royal palace of his grand-uncle, and as a youth received both religious and secular education. Prior to his accession, Sanusi was an Islamic intellectual, academic, political economist and banker.[8] He served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, ushering in banking reforms until his suspension after he made a controversial allegation of $20 billion in government coffers.[9][10][11]