Former Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi has confirmed his appointment as the Khalifa (leader) of the Tijjaniya sect in Nigeria.
The former first-class traditional ruler confirmed this during an interview on Tuesday with BBC Hausa service.
He explained that Sheikh Mahy Ibrahim Nyass confirmed him as the Khalifa of Tijjaniya in Nigeria when he paid him a visit in Senegal on Monday.
According to him, a delegation of prominent scholars was sent to Nigeria by Khalifa Sheikh Mahy Nyass to consult Nigerian clerics on their preferred choice to lead the sect in the country and 98 percent of the clerics chose him.
“As people already know, this was my grandfather’s position… The late Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi I and all my life, I have no ambition than to inherit him. I inherited him and became the Emir of Kano and today, Almighty Allah has made it possible for me and I inherited him as Khalifa of Tijjaniyya.
“I have nothing to say but to thank Almighty Allah and seek for his guidance to help me discharge my responsibility,” he said.
It will be recalled months back, Sanusi was appointed as the Leader of the Tijjaniya sect in Nigeria, taking over the mantle of leadership from Sheikh Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu who died in 2018
Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi I, Sanusi’s late grandfather, was a leader of The Tijjaniyah, a Sufi order.
However, there were controversies about his emergence as the Tijjaniyah leader with some prominent clerics and leaders belonging to the Dhariqa Tijjaniyya faction denying Sanusi’s appointment and describing the news as fake.
But again, Sanusi has been turbaned as the Khalifa of the Tijaniyya sect in Nigeria by Sheikh Mahi Ibrahim Inyass, grand Khalifa of the Tijaniyya movement, on Sunday in Senegal.
Following Sanusi’s announcement he was confirmed leader of the sect on Tuesday, followers of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi said they were not aware of the latest endorsement of Sanusi from Senegal and were not consulted before the decision was made.
