Kano emir shelves Sallah festival

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

There was confusion in Kano city yesterday as the Emir of Kano State, Muhammadu Sunusi II, shunned some traditional procession observed by the emirate on Eid day.

Traditionally, the emir, after the Eid prayer, holds a durbar called “Hawan Idi” where he and his entourage ride through the Wambai gate, through Zage area and stays at the Shettima House to extend pleasantries before proceeding to Kofar Kwaru (Kwaru gate) to address the masses.

 But, this time, Emir Sunusi II, shunned a visit to the Shettima house as observed by his predecessors and failed to stop at the Kofar Kwaru to address the masses, but rode straight ahead to Kofar Kudu (South get) where he finally entered into the palace.

However, this development created confusion among the people around the commercial city, who were in the palace to catch a glimpse of the new emir.

Speaking, a resident, Tijjani Sawaba, said the situation has created fears that the new emir might modernize the traditions of the emirate.

“I was very surprised at this development; in fact I was sad because this is against the tradition of emirate. I fear this new emir might modernize the traditions.”

According to Barrister Nasiru Labaran, said “new emir might introduce new innovations in the emirate which to me are good. It is good to be modern as the new emir seems more modern than his predecessors.”

But this may not be unconnected to the security situation in the state as tension of the recent bomb blast at the new road motor park in Sabon Gari Area, which claimed the life of a woman and injured several others, has not faded in the minds of the people in the state. Similarly, the Kano Emirate council announced over the weekend that the traditional Sallah durbar would not hold due to insecurity bedeviling the country.