Muhammad Sanusi II, a former emir of Kano, has been appointed leader of the Tijaniyya Islamic sect in Nigeria.
Sanusi was appointed as the caliph of the Tijaniyya sect at its annual gathering in Sokoto on Friday.
The Tijjaniyya sect has members across West, North and East Africa.
Sanusi’s grandfather, who was also Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi I, was the first leader of the sect in Nigeria.
After his death, the sect broke into two factions following the selection of Isiyaka Rabiu as his successor. The other faction rallied behind Dahiru Bauchi and stuck to its different ways until Mr Rabiu’s death.
On Friday, members and leaders of the two factions met in Sokoto and selected Sanusi as the group’s new leader.
The two factions of the sect confirmed the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor as their leader during the Maulud celebration of Ibrahim Niass, a prominent sheikh.
The development comes one year after Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, deposed Sanusi as the emir of Kano.
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