KANO, Nigeria — The ongoing Kano emirship tussle has forced both Muhammadu Sanusi II and Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero to suspend all planned Eid-el-Kabir Sallah durbar celebrations in the state following explicit directives from law enforcement agencies.
The cancellations come after both traditional leaders announced intentions to host parallel durbar processions across the ancient city, sparking widespread anxiety among residents over potential violent clashes between rival supporter groups.
Okay News reports that the two camps issued separate briefings on Thursday acknowledging the security reality. Speaking on behalf of Emir Sanusi, the Matawallen Kano, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim, stated that the Emirate Council received intelligence indicating that certain elements planned to hijack the high-profile cultural processions to orchestrate chaos and breach public peace.
In a simultaneous development, the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’agundi, announced the suspension on behalf of Emir Aminu Bayero, affirming that their camp would strictly comply with the police directives to preserve metropolitan stability. While both leaders successfully conducted separate, non-overlapping Hawan Sallah events on Wednesday, the logistical bottleneck of traditional durbar routes made parallel events impossible without a security breach.
The institutional crisis dates back to 2024 when Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf dethroned Bayero to reinstate Sanusi, reversing a 2020 balkanization policy implemented by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. With the Supreme Court recently adjourning its definitive ruling on the legal ownership of the stool until April 2027, the iconic Hausa cultural tradition remains paralyzed by the prolonged institutional deadlock.
