IN a move widely regarded as a slap to the Bichi Emirate Council and the Emir, HRH Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Kano state government has ordered the stoppage and indefinite suspension of the Bichi Emirate’s biggest traditional event a week to the event.
The Bichi Emirate Council had in a letter through the Secretary of the Emirate, dated 2nd February 2024, notified the state government of its historic planned Turbaning Ceremony scheduled for 1st March, 2024.
The ceremony, the biggest of its kind in the Emirate, was to upgrade the District Head, Alhaji Salisu Ado Bayero and confers special traditional titles to some eminent indigenes of the state.
However, the state government ordered the indefinite suspension of the ceremony in a response to the Bichi Emirate in a letter dated 21st February signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Local Government, Ibrahim M Kabara on behalf of the commissioner, who doubles as the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
The letter reads in part:
Re – Upgrading Of District HeadAnd Conferment Of Traditional Title On Some Eminent Indigenes In The State:
Reference to the communication received from you via a letter with reference number, Bichi/Emi/Adm/018/VolII/167 with above caption dated 2nd February 2024.
I am instructed to convey the government’s directive to suspend the exercise due to certain exigencies at the moment.
You will be communicated at an appropriate time, please.
Best Regards
Ibrahim M Kabara
For Hon Commissioner
A source in the Emirate, who pleaded anonymity said, ‘the govt just wanted to embarrass the Emir of Bichi and the Bichi Emirate because everything about the exercise is in accordance with rules of the state and the Emirate.
“Invitations have been sent to VIPs all over the globe and the beneficiaries were notified weeks ago and lots of money has been spent in preparation for this historic ceremony.
“Why will a government that prides itself on the progress of Kano people cancelled such a progressive initiative? Why did it even take the govt almost three weeks to respond to a simple notification, just eight days to the event? A faster suspension notice would have saved a lot”, the source lamented.
It could be recalled that on December 5, 2019, the then-governor of the state Abdullahi Ganduje, signed the emirate law — the same day it was unanimously passed by the state legislators.
Barely three months after the establishment of the new emirates, the governor dethroned the then-emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and banished him to Awe in Nasarawa State.
Over the last few weeks, there have been calls for the state government to dissolve the newly created emirate and the re-instate of the 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi lI.
All efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kano governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa proved abortive as texts and chats were not replied as at the time of filling this report.