Kano State is on edge as heavily armed security personnel, including operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police Force, have cordoned off the Emir’s Palace at Kofar Kudu, restricting entry and exit.
Reports indicate that the deployment is linked to Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II’s reported plans to install his newly appointed Wamban Kano, the District Head of Bichi.
In a parallel development, the Bichi Emir’s Palace has also come under tight security, with armed policemen stationed around the area. Sources reveal that Emir Sanusi has been actively seeking clarity on the unfolding situation.
A Kano State government insider disclosed that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf sent a delegation to the Emir’s Palace, but the delegation was denied entry by security operatives.
Background of the Conflict
This incident comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the status of Kano’s emirates.
Two weeks ago, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, affirmed during a visit to Bichi that the Bichi Emirate Council remains valid under Emir Nasiru Ado Bayero.
However, Governor Yusuf, citing the newly passed Kano Emirate Council Law, annulled the five emirates, effectively dissolving their status as chiefdoms. Subsequently, the state government appointed three second-class emirs, excluding Bichi, which was downgraded to a district head’s jurisdiction.
The situation remains tense as stakeholders await further developments.
