Shekarau Decries Kano Emirship Tussle, Urges Restraint

A former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has expressed concern over the lingering emirship tussle in Kano, stating that while the situation deeply troubles him, he is refraining from any direct involvement in the matter.

Speaking on Channels TV’s programme, Politics Today, Shekarau, an elder statesman and senior member of the Kano Emirate Council, attributed the crisis to political interference. He stressed the need for a peaceful resolution and emphasised the importance of the traditional institution in maintaining societal harmony.

“I am a very senior member of the emirate council and apart from that, I governed the state. So, I am a very senior citizen of the state. The day the matter went to court, I said I would not discuss or interfere no matter what. This bothers me. I am from Kano. I want everything in Kano to be peaceful. We are waiting, and my prayer is that we overcome it soonest; there will be peace. We need the traditional institution. I will not go into that because I belong to the institution,” Shekarau stated.

The former governor noted that the involvement of politicians in the traditional affairs of the emirate has exacerbated the crisis. He lamented the lack of proper engagement between political leaders and the traditional institution, which he believes could have prevented the current discord.

“It was the political angle that seemed to have led us into this crisis. If the politicians had kept away from all of this and, of course, the traditional institution if properly engaged, I don’t see any disagreement. The traditional institutions are leading in their own right in society. The governor or any government appointee is a leader. There has to be this synergy of understanding,” he remarked.

Shekarau also reflected on his tenure as governor, highlighting the collaborative efforts he undertook with the Emir of Kano to address social issues, such as the almajiri system. He pointed to the establishment of a 50-member almajiri council, co-chaired by himself and the Emir, as an example of how traditional and political leaders could work together for the betterment of society.

The emirship tussle in Kano has been a source of tension in the state, with various stakeholders calling for calm and a resolution that respects both the traditional institution and the rule of law.