News
Tension in Kano ancient city as emirs Bayero, Sanusi plan parallel Sallah Durbar
Palpable fear and tension has gripped the ancient city of Kano as Emirs Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Aminu Ado Bayero are both planning to feature the traditional Sallah Durbar festival.
The parallel plan has sent jitters down the spine of Kano residents amid uncertainty and possible violence as both are laying claims to the legitimacy of organizing Sallah Durbar.
Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has already scheduled a Durbar festival, but Emir Sanusi II is kicking.
Our correspondent reports that both Emirs have mapped out line of events with the State Government backing Emir Lamido Sanusi II, while the Federal Government is backing Aminu Ado Bayero.
CAPITAL POST recalled the prolong emirship tussle in Court. The development is causing more confusion as both Emirs are laying claims to the throne.
In a letter signed by Bayero’s Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, the 15th Emir has notified the authorities of the plan and arrangements to conduct the traditional festival, including Hauwa Nasarawa and Daushe, to commemorate the end of Ramadan.
According to the schedule, Bayero’s festivities will feature Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe, and Hawan Nassarawa on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days of Shawwal 1446 AH, followed by a cultural event on the 4th day.
Kwaru noted that this year’s celebrations marked a significant milestone, coinciding with the Emir’s fifth anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.
“The purpose of this letter is to formally notify the security agencies in Kano State, particularly the Police Force, that this year’s Sallah events coincide with the five (5) years anniversary of His Highness on the throne of his forefathers, with the assurance that all activities will be conducted peacefully,” the letter read.
Kwaru expressed hope for a peaceful celebration and prayed for protection, good health, and harmony in society, adding that the Emir’s office sought the cooperation of security agencies to ensure a peaceful and successful celebration.
Incidentally, Bayero’s notice of the event emerged on social media soon after, the Kano State Government directed the four recognized emirates, under the leadership of Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, to commence full preparation for the Durbar festival.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the directive while hosting the first and second-class emirs to a special Ramadan Iftar at the Government House, insisting that residents would not be denied the opportunity to relish the colorful traditional activities at the end of Ramadan.
The Kano Sallah Durbar festival is a famous tourist attraction that gathers visitors from within and outside Nigeria to witness the heritage of Hausa/Fulani culture at the Emir’s palace.
The Durbar features a colourful horse ride by the Emir, accompanied by district heads, traditional titleholders, and hundreds of their subjects, where they display ancient shows of strength and warrior traditions.
Besides the horse rides, the Sallah festival also witnesses the honour of homage by the Emir to the Government House (Hauwa Nassarawa) on the second day of Sallah, after the Governor would have paid a similar visit to the palace on Sallah day.
Coincidentally, while Governor Yusuf is scheduled to receive the homage of Muhammadu Sanusi and other second-class emirs at the Government House, The Guardian reliably gathered that Bayero would pay a similar visit to Federal Government delegations, including top members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano, at a local venue yet to be unveiled.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Police Command in Kano, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful as his phone line was reported to have been forwarded to another unknown line. However, the newly posted Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, upon his arrival, pledged to ensure the protection of lives and property.
