A former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Emirship tussle in Kano, saying that while he was deeply troubled over the situation, he was refraining from direct involvement in the matter.
Shekarau stated this when he featured on Channels TV’s Politics Today, where he attributed the Kano crisis to political interference.
The former governor however stressed the need for peaceful resolution of the crisis, emphasising 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 will 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 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 at the establishment of a 50-member Almajiri Council, co-chaired by himself and the Emir, as an example of how traditional and political leaders can work together for the betterment of society.
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