How 3 Eid Prayers Exposed Deepening Traditional, Political Divisions In Kano

This year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration took an unusual turn in the Kano State capital yesterday as key political figures and traditional leaders observed Eid prayers at separate locations, revealing widening divisions rooted in both the lingering Kano Emirate crisis and the recent political realignments in the state.

Recall that days before the Eid-el-Fitr day, the signs of what was to happen became glaring as there was a back-and-forth between the state government and the 15th Emir of Kano, HRH Aminu Ado Bayero, over who should lead the age-long durbar in the emirate following the official announcement and recognition of the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, for the traditional post-sallah procession.

However, it is worthy of note that not a few people believed that the lingering Kano Emirate tussle would become a thing of the past following the defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), whose central government has been providing tacit support and security cover for the rival Emir Aminu Bayero. The situation remains the same and is becoming worse.

Governor Yusuf was among those who attended the Eid prayer led by the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, at the Kofar Mata Eid Ground in Kano around 8:00 a.m on Friday. The gathering also included top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Faruq, and the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori.

According to Muhammad Dallatu, a close associate of the Emir Sanusi II, the sermon emphasised unity, peaceful coexistence, and the need to preserve harmony despite prevailing tensions in the state.

In another development, the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, held a separate Eid prayer at the foreground of Nasarawa Palace. The prayer, led by Sheikh Kamaluddeen Albasa, echoed similar calls for peace, unity, and stability in the Emirate.

Spokesman of the emir, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Na’isa, said the event was attended by notable personalities, including the Director-General of the National Productivity Centre (NPC), Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, and former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji.

Meanwhile, the third prayer session was a clear political statement by the Kwankwasiyya bloc in the state, and it was evident to all given Governor Yusuf’s defection from their fold. The Eid prayer took place at the residence of the National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, along Miller Road in Kano. The gathering was attended by the State’s deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, former Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata, and other loyalists of Kwankwaso.

Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, described the atmosphere as one of reflection, gratitude, and unity among attendees.

These developments highlighted the deepening crisis in Kano’s socio-political landscape. The roots of the division can be traced to the Kano emirate crisis of 2024, with the sudden dethronement of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, and the subsequent reinstatement of the 14th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, by Governor Abba Kabir, a development that apparently pitched the Kano State government against the federal government at the time.

Also, recent political realignments have further intensified the divide, particularly Governor Yusuf’s recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move widely seen as reshaping loyalties across the state’s political class.