JUST IN: I advise officials privately before public criticism – Sanusi

The 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has urged Nigerian youths to wake up to their responsibilities, ask questions, demand answers and hold public office holders accountable.

Sanusi, who is known for public criticism of government policies he found not to be good enough, said what many did not know was that he would have advised the officials privately for months before going public.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Sanusi, who is also the current Khalifah,  Tijaniyat Movement of Nigeria, said this in Lagos on Sunday at a stage play titled “Emir Sanusi: Truth in Time”.

The play was written by a professor of Drama at the Redeemer University, Ahmed Yerima, and produced by the Executive Chairman, Duke of Somolu Productions, Mr Joseph Edgar.

Sanusi said, “As a citizen of this country, the future is in our hands, if care is not taken, there will be no country for them the way this country is headed.

“If the ministers, the commissioners, the governors and the local government chairmen did their jobs as they should, Nigeria will be better for it.

“Ask questions clarify issues; don’t sweep issues under the carpet.

“Often times, I am criticised for publicly speaking against government policies, but what most people don’t know is the fact that I speak with these government officials privately sometimes for months or years before I go public.”

 Sanusi applauded the cast and crew of the play, saying it was well detailed.

Sanusi, who said he was overwhelmed with emotions when he saw the play in Abuja on Saturday, however, noted that the play in Lagos was well interpreted and detailed, which made it interesting.

He added, “When my family and friends heard that Joseph Edgar was telling the story about my life, they told me to go through the script, but I resisted the urge to peep.

 “But I am glad that they told my story in the most captivating way with the basic facts.

 “When I watched the play in Abuja, I cried because I saw myself through the eyes of other people, when I spoke to a close associate, she said, what I witnessed was a blessing because people don’t live to witness such.”

He urged the audience not to be slaves to either wealth, money or power because it could be taken away from them.

In his remarks, Edgar, said the decision to do a play about Sanusi, a 1976 Kings College alumni, was because of his doggedness, courage and his love for the girl-child and equality among men and women.

“Some people from both the ruling party and the popular opposition will call us and give us money so we can have a stage production in their honour but we refused.

 “We believe in what the Emir stands for, his principles, Emir is fearless, he speaks for the voiceless,” he said.

NAN reports that the two-day stage play held simultaneously on Saturday and Sunday in Lagos and Abuja