June 15, (THEWILL) – The people of Kano will celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Kabir amid a protracted Emirate crisis that has rocked the state for three weeks now.
The crisis was sparked off by the dethronement of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the Emir of Kano alongside the Emirs of Bichi, Rano, Gaya and Karaye, and the reappointment of Khalifa Sunusi Lamido Sunusi as the 16th Fulani Emir of Kano by the State Government.
The royal rumble, which generated litigations and counter-litigations, culminated in the ancient city of Kano having an Emir installed by the State Government and another deposed by the same Government, all staying in the same domain.
While Emir Muhammadu Sunusi II is staying at the Emir’s Palace inside the city and conducting Royal duties, the dethroned Emir Bayero stays put at the Gidan Sarkin Nasarawa Royal Guest House, where he is also conducting palace activities.
A vox populi conducted by THEWILL revealed strong disapproval by residents of the commercial city of the royal tussle now lingering into the Eid-el-Kabir period.
Many of the residents interviewed feel that the royal controversy will take the shine off the Sallah festival which formally starts on Sunday, June 16, 2024.
They opined that the festival would be observed devoid of the usual pomp and pageantry, more so as the state Police Command has banned all Durbar activities during the 2024 Sallah, apparently to avert a further escalation of the emirate tussle.
One of the residents, Sabi’u Nura of Kurmawa quarters in Kano municipal, expressed concern that this year’s Sallah would be celebrated under a tense atmosphere caused by the royal rumble.
“I can’t imagine myself celebrating the Sallah with our Emirate in crisis. The Emir is the major symbol of the celebration and he is the custodian of our culture and traditions. The Sallah is, therefore, going to be bleak without him staging the Durbar and other activities associated with the festival,” Nura said.
Another resident of the state, Balarabe Akilu, who expressed unhappiness about celebrating the festive period under the ensuing crisis, said the festivities will be dull because of the situation.
Akilu, who resides in Dadin Kowa in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, said he used to travel to Kano to witness the traditional Hawan Daushe (a Durbar staged by the Emir in front of his palace) during the Sallah festival, but that with the ban on the activity caused by the crisis, he would stay back and observe the Sallah in his village.
Usman Salisu, a soft drinks seller and a resident of Challawa quarters in Kumbotso Local Government Area, also bemoaned the emirship controversy which he said would deprive him of the opportunity to sell his drinks along Sabon Bakin Zuwo Road in the state capital during the Eid-el-Kabir festival.
“There is no need to take my wares to the city centre again, as not many people will be around to patronise me because of the ban on the Durbar activities,” Salisu said.
Meanwhile, the ancient city remains calm and peaceful as the residents prepare to celebrate the Sallah, which from all indications will be low-key following the prevailing economic hardships in the country.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
