Kano Emirate crisis: The storm that could swallow Gov Yusuf
Last week, His Highness, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, planned to attend a Qur’anic graduation ceremony organised at an Islamic school in Yakasai. In preparation for the outing, he informed the security agencies of his plans ahead of time.
Following the notification, approval was reportedly obtained from the security authorities, and arrangements were made for police personnel to be deployed to various locations along the route the Emir was expected to take, with the aim of ensuring that the event was conducted peacefully.
His Highness the Emir, accompanied by a large number of his supporters, set out early in the morning and proceeded to his residence in Mandawari, where he planned to remain until about 4:00 p.m. From there, he was expected to proceed to Yakasai to attend the Qur’anic graduation ceremony as originally scheduled.
From the moment the Emir mounted his horse, accompanied by his supporters, until they arrived at Mandawari, there were no reported incidents of violence, disorder or unrest among the people of Kano State.
Consequently, upon his arrival at his Mandawari residence, preparations continued for the planned journey to the ceremony.
Unfortunately, after the journey had taken place peacefully, and just as His Highness the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, was expected to leave Mandawari, a statement was issued by the Director-General of Media and Public Relations to the Kano State Government, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, announcing the suspension of all forms of Durbar activities and horseback processions within the Kano metropolis until further notice.
According to the state government, the decision followed an emergency meeting of the Kano State Security Council and was taken on security grounds, amid concerns about the possibility of confrontation or a breakdown of law and order.
The announcement was not well received by supporters of the Emir of Kano.
Furthermore, reports emerged that security personnel had taken control of the school where the Qur’anic graduation ceremony was scheduled to take place and that the tents prepared for the event had been removed.
As a result, His Highness the Emir complied with the government’s directive, and arrangements were made for him to return to his Nasarawa Palace by car.
However, just as the Emir was preparing to leave and vehicles had been lined up for the journey, he came out and instructed that the vehicles be removed, choosing instead to make the journey on foot.
The Emir, accompanied by the large crowd that had followed him, then walked from Mandawari all the way to the Nasarawa Palace.
This took place despite the heavy rainfall at the time.
At one point, the Emir even instructed that the umbrella being held over him be removed, allowing the rain to fall on him just as it was falling on his supporters.
In the end, His Highness the Emir returned home safely. There were no reports of anyone being assaulted or of public property being destroyed. There were also no reports of any loss of life among the people of Kano State as a result of the outing.
There is, however, another important question that now deserves public attention.
Now that Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has reportedly ridden a horse from Kofar Kudu back to Gidan Rumfa Palace, many people will naturally be waiting to see what action, if any, the security agencies will take in response.
This question is particularly relevant because the Kano State Government had announced a restriction on Durbar processions and horseback riding within the Kano metropolis, while the Kano State Police Command subsequently reiterated that the directive remained in force and was binding on everyone, regardless of status or position.
The police also warned that anyone who violated the restriction could face arrest, while stating that anyone intending to organise public horse-riding or Durbar activities was required to give the command prior written notice for security assessment and arrangements.
If that is indeed the position of the security authorities, then a legitimate question arises: will the same rule be applied equally to everyone, regardless of who is involved?
This is not necessarily about supporting one Emir against another. Rather, it is about the principle that government directives and security measures should be applied consistently and fairly.
If the restriction was introduced for security reasons, then the people of Kano have a legitimate interest in seeing that it is enforced in a manner that is consistent, transparent and applicable to everyone.
This is where the big political question arises
This is where I believe there is a serious question to be asked.
Perhaps Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is not receiving sufficient political advice from those around him who should be helping him properly calculate the political consequences of his decisions.
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If the Governor had applied the political equivalent of a “calculator”, perhaps he might have reconsidered the decision to suspend the horseback procession.
We are now approaching a period when political competition will become increasingly intense. Why, then, would you take an action that could potentially distance you from people whose votes you may need?
Governor, you are dealing with a figure such as Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, who commands a significant following, yet you have taken a step that could potentially further alienate some of those supporters from your administration.
Whether you agree with it or not, there are many people across Kano State who openly express love and support for His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero without receiving even a single naira in return.
At the same time, you, Governor, are already engaged in a political disagreement with your former political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose supporters include people who are opposed to your administration.
In such circumstances, if you now enter into another dispute with supporters of Aminu Ado Bayero, the question is: is this really the political calculation that should be made at this particular moment?
Every politician wants supporters who will vote for them on election day and help them secure victory.
But, personally, I struggle to understand the political calculation behind the Kano Government’s handling of this particular matter.
Has the Governor forgotten that Kano is a place where elections are won through votes, not through confrontation?
In Kano politics, you cannot force people to accept what they do not want. In fact, the more you try to force people, the more they may feel compelled to demonstrate that they also have the right to make independent decisions about their political views.
And now, Your Excellency the Governor, it is important to remember that the Kano election is a matter of enormous political significance.
No matter how one calculates the chances of winning an election, once the ballot box is placed before the people, every politician ultimately has to fight for his own votes.
No one can carry another politician on his shoulders when it comes to securing votes, because every politician’s ultimate objective is to prevent his opponent from defeating him.
Therefore, at this point, everyone is looking for a political advantage for himself rather than trying to secure an advantage for someone else.
Yet, despite this political reality, you are seeking a second term. You have already lost some of the supporters associated with Kwankwaso, and now you have an opportunity to attract other supporters who may potentially stand with you.
But instead of consolidating that support, you appear to be taking steps that could further distance some of these people from your administration.
Honestly, I believe you should reconsider the political calculations behind your approach to this matter, because creating another wave of disagreement for yourself may not make your political journey any easier.
Your Excellency, in my view, this is not the time to enter into another political confrontation.
You already have major political challenges ahead of you.
Therefore, even if you are unwilling to return Aminu Ado Bayero to the Rumfa Palace, you should exercise considerable caution, particularly because issues surrounding the Kano Emirate are currently before the courts.
At present, the Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of a case related to the emirate dispute to 19 April 2027. The adjournment was for further hearing, not judgment. It is therefore appropriate to allow the judicial process to take its course without further fuelling political tensions surrounding the matter.
Openly supporting one side while appearing to oppose the other could further deepen the division between the supporters of the two Emirs.
This is an issue that requires considerable caution.
The politics of 2027
As the next election season approaches, other candidates seeking to become Governor of Kano State may seek the support of different segments of the population, including supporters of His Highness Aminu Ado Bayero.
Politically, every candidate seeking votes has the right to attempt to win the support of any section of society that he or she believes could support the campaign.
Therefore, I believe Abba Kabir Yusuf should reconsider the way he is handling this matter, particularly his relationship with the different groups connected to the Kano Emirate dispute.
Finally, I appeal to all parties involved to place peace above everything else.
No political disagreement or dispute over the traditional institution is more valuable than human life and the peace and stability of the people of Kano.
Whatever political or traditional differences may exist, Kano belongs to all of its people. The responsibility of every leader and every stakeholder should therefore be to ensure that disagreements do not become a source of division, confrontation or instability.
