Kwankwaso rejects nominee for Wazirin Kano

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has rejected the nomination of Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir by the Kano Emirate Council for confirmation as the new Wazirin Kano.

It would be recalled that an eminent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Isa Waziri, who died on the 3rd of August last year, held the traditional title of Wazirin Kano.

The emirate council nominated Sheikh Nasir, the Limamin Masallacin Waje, (Fagge Jummat Mosque in the ancient city, as its choice to replace late Isa Waziri as the Wazirin Kano. However, the nomination was said to have been vehemently rejected by the state government.

The council had in August last year, shortly after the death of the former holder of the title, proposed Sheikh Nasir as replacement but the Kwankwaso administration allegedly rejected the proposal, citing some security concerns.

The state government was said to have written a protest letter to the council, urging it not to go ahead with the appointment of Sheikh Nasir pending investigation on some issues bordering on its rumoured security concerns about the choice of the nominee.

But the emirate council went ahead and allegedly ignored the request of the executive governor by appointing Sheikh Nasir last week as the new Waziri, shortly after the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, returned from a long medical trip abroad.

The event at which the nominee’s name was announced, said to have been attended by the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who double as the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, witnessed a twist when the government objected to the choice of the Islamic cleric.

Our correspondent learnt that Ganduje immediately summoned a meeting with Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, which lasted about 20 minutes, during which he announced the disapproval of the state governor to the choice of the nominee.

Similarly, another letter was said to have been sent to the emirate council from the state government, threatening to either create two additional emirate councils for Gaya and Karaye respectively or dethrone Emir Bayero, in the event the council failed to reverse the appointment.

This development allegedly prompted the council to summon an emergency meeting Monday where the representative of the Sultanate was sent to witness the deliberation, to resolve the impasse.

Our correspondent learnt that the emirate council, following wide consultations, decided to reverse the appointment and is expected to announce its decision today or tomorrow.

All efforts to get official confirmation of the feud, especially Governor Kwankwaso’s alleged objection to the choice of Sheikh Nasir, were unsuccessful as all top government officers contacted preferred to keep sealed lips, while also urging not to be named in our news report.

The late Sheikh Waziri, who succeeded his brother, Waziri Gidado, and occupied the position for nine years, was appointed by the Ado Bayero, who is vested with the power to select the occupant of the office.

Until his death, Sheikh Waziri served as Shari’a court judge, school teacher, Juma’at mosque imam and as a senior adviser to Kano traditional ruler.

The source said that ‘without contradiction the real race to succeed the Wazirin of Kano emirate council has not started. The position is neither contested nor belongs to a particular family and our custom permits only Emir Bayero to choose the new Waziri’.

Sheikh Nasir was also mentioned for Wazirin Kano office at the time the late occupant was selected. He had led in Juma’at prayer when the seat of the Imam of City Central Mosque was vacant and sometimes led the Eid prayers at the City Eid Ground.

The Wazirin Kano title was adopted from the Sokoto Emirate about 200 years ago during the reign of Emir Alu, who compensated his elder brother, Ahmad, with the office after the Kano civil war.