For the first time in recent years, Kano State witnessed three separate Eid-el-Fitr prayers, reflecting widening divisions among the state’s traditional and political leadership.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, led the first Eid prayer at Kofar Mata Eid Ground around 8:00 a.m.
The prayer drew top government officials and residents, including Governor Abba Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Faruq, and the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori. A close associate of the Emir, Muhammad Dallatu, said the sermon emphasised unity and peaceful coexistence in Kano.
Meanwhile, the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, conducted a separate Eid prayer at Nasarawa Palace at roughly the same time.
The prayer, led by Sheikh Kamaluddeen Albasa, focused on promoting unity, peace, and support for stability in the state. Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Na’isa, the Emir’s spokesperson, said prominent figures, including the Director-General of the National Productivity Centre, Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, and former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, were in attendance.
Simultaneously, the National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, held his Eid prayer at his residence mosque along Miller Road.
He was joined by Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, former Commissioner for Science and Technology Yusuf Kofar Mata, and other loyalists.
Saifullahi Hassan, a media aide to Kwankwaso, said the gathering was conducted in an atmosphere of unity, reflection, and gratitude to Allah.
The separate prayers underscore ongoing tensions in Kano, stemming from the 2020 emirate dispute, which saw the dethronement of Sanusi II and the installation of Bayero, and the 2024 reinstatement of Sanusi II, resulting in parallel royal authorities.
Political realignments have further deepened the divide, particularly Governor Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP to the APC.
Historically, Eid prayers in Kano served as a unifying platform where the Emir, political leaders, and residents gathered together at Kofar Mata Eid Ground. The current development represents a significant departure from this tradition, highlighting the growing rifts within the state’s traditional and political structures.
The PUNCH