I Was Labelled An Imposter In The Very City I Was Born – Ado Bayero shares (Emir of Kano)

I never thought the day would come when I, the 15th Emir of Kano, would be labelled an impostor in the very city where I was born, raised, and crowned. But that day came. It came with sirens, with court orders ignored, with threats, and with thugs shouting at my gates.

I am Aminu Ado Bayero, son of the late, great Emir Ado Bayero, and I write these words not to seek sympathy, but to tell the truth unfiltered, painful, and necessary.

In March 2020, I was crowned the 15th Emir of Kano. It was a dignified process, a succession deeply rooted in our tradition and history. I ruled with peace in my heart and honour in my hands. But in 2024, everything changed. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf repealed the law that had split Kano into multiple emirates and reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi ,my predecessor and now, my political opponent.

Without warning, without consultation, I was dethroned. Just like that. But I did not run.

I remained in the Nasarawa Palace—my residence. The same palace they later tried to break into. They called me a trespasser. They sent thugs to my gates, shouting “Leave our land!” They tried to demolish the palace. They cut off access to security. I was advised to flee. But I stayed.

Then came the lies: that I was clinging to a throne that was never mine. That I was imposed. That I should leave quietly. I have never disrespected the law. But when a governor issues illegal orders and the police obey, what protection does tradition have? What justice remains?

When I took legal action, the court ruled in my favour. They granted me ₦10 million in damages. They declared the governor’s actions unconstitutional. But even with the court on my side, the noise has not stopped.

I have been accused of tearing apart the monarchy. Of dividing the people. Of resisting progress. Yet I have only defended my name, my father’s name, and the legacy of the Kano Emirate. I have watched soldiers escort my successor to the main palace—while I remain surrounded by uncertainty, my every move monitored.

Some call this politics. But to me, it is betrayal. It is an attempt to erase a man while he still breathes. To strip him of a crown not for misrule, but for political revenge.

I will not bow to force. I will not give up my voice. I will not walk away from a history that shaped me. Let them write what they want. Let them spin what suits them. But I was not made Emir by accident—and I will not be erased by convenience.

What’s your verdict? Should traditional rulers be at the mercy of politics? Was I wrong to stay and defend my title?
Let’s talk in the comments. Speak your truth.