Former President Goodluck Jonathan stirred reactions when he addressed the 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, as “My good friend”.

Jonathan said this at the public presentation of ‘My Life of Duty and Allegiance’, the autobiography of Former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), on Tuesday.

The hall erupted into laughter, making the former president who served as chairman of the occasion, to pause his welcome remarks for a while.

Jonathan and Sanusi fell out during Sanusi’s tenure as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This was as a result of an allegation that shook the country at the time.

On February 13, 2014, while appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance, Sanusi had alleged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) failed to remit about $20 billion into the federation account.

The allegation reportedly strained the relationship between the the president and the CBN governor, generating widespread a political controversy and national debate.

Consequently, Jonathan suspended Sanusi as CBN governor, citing allegations of misconduct and financial recklessness.

Months after his suspension from the apex bank, Sanusi emerged as the Emir of Kano following the death of late Emir Ado Bayero in 2014.

Sanusi was appointed by the Kano State government under the leadership of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, marking his return to national prominence. (Daily Trust)