Kano residents have expressed concerns over the plan by the 15th and 16th Emirs of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, to hold Sallah Durbar, as part of the traditional Sallah festivities.

A cross-section of the residents who spoke to The PUNCH on Monday expressed fear that the actions of the rival monarchs could cause trouble in the state.

The crisis in the Kano Emirate began on May 23, 2024, when the government removed Aminu Ado Bayero and reinstated Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

Sanusi had been deposed four years earlier by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who split the emirate into five.

The ongoing legal battles following Bayero?s removal further complicated the situation, with conflicting court rulings yet to establish the legitimacy of either Sanusi or Bayero.

On March 19, 2025, Kano State Governor, Kabir Yusuf, announced that he would unveil the Kano Emirate Council and ordered that preparation should commence for Sallah Durbar.

?Governor Yusuf emphasised that the people of the state eagerly anticipate the tradition of wearing new clothes on Sallah day, lining the streets to witness their Emirs on horseback, and exchanging greetings,? a statement by the governor?s spokesman, Bature Dawakin-Tofa stated.

In a counter move, the government-deposed emir, Bayero, also wrote a letter to the state police command, notifying it of his intention to hold the traditional event during the upcoming Sallah celebrations in the state.

Bayero, through his Private Secretary, Abdullahi Haruna Kwaru, notified security agencies, especially the police, about his schedule for the traditional Sallah festivities marking the end of Ramadan.

The festivities are expected to feature the Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe, and Hawan Nasarawa on the first, second, and third days of Shawwal, followed by additional cultural celebrations on the fourth day.

The development sent jitters down the spines of residents, who feared anarchy was looming in the state.

One of the residents, Musa Hassan, said any attempt by the traditional rulers to conduct parallel durbar and other festivities could breach the existing peace in the ancient city.

?The announcement by the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, that he will hold sallah festivities has signalled fears among residents, especially when Governor Yusuf asked the 16th Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II and other traditional rulers to prepare ahead of the Eid-el-Fitr festival,? Hassan said.

Another resident, who simply gave his name as Abdul, cautioned against any attempt by the two warring traditional rulers to conduct Sallah Durbar given the fragile nature of Kano.

?As I?m talking to you now, the issue is the talk of the town. I am afraid if such happens (we are not hoping), it will be disastrous,? Abdul said.

Many of the residents who spoke with The PUNCH called on the government to suspend all Sallah festivities in the interest of peace, unity and economic development of the state.

Efforts to get the police to speak on the development failed as the command?s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, neither picked up the several calls put through to his telephone line nor replied to the WhatsApp message sent to him.

Similar efforts to contact the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to the phone calls from The PUNCH. (The PUNCH)

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