Just in: President Goodluck Jonathan, Emir Sanusi reconcile

After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that drove both men to the extremes of their offices.

Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was fired by the president in February after accusing the  government of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.

The federal government denied the claim, and consequently, accused Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness.

After leaving office, Mr. Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano in June, assuming one of the most powerful traditional stools in Nigeria.

His appointment by Kano State’s Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, an associate opposition All Progressives Congress, was opposed by the presidency which ordered the emir’s office blockaded for days.

The emir reportedly initiated peace moves, and both men met for the first time in July during the breaking of the Muslim fast, an annually routine in that the president meets top government officials that are Muslims and other prominent Islamic leaders in the country.

Our sources say Thursday’s meeting was essentially for reconciliation between both sides.

The emir was accompanied to the meeting by all senior members of the Kano Emirate council, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.

Officials at the meeting say the president urged peace, and announced he had nothing contrary to the emir and he had forgotten precisely what happened.

In exchange, Mr. Sanusi also preached peace saying he too had forget about the past.

The president and the emir later met privately for approximately 15 minutes, according to the sources.

Mr. Sanusi and his entourage left for Kano right after, and were on the way to the Abuja airport during the time with this report.