Two traditional rulers, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, led separate Eid-el-Kabir prayers in Kano on Friday, as both men continue to lay claim to the Kano Emirship.
Sanusi led prayers at the Kofar Mata Eid ground at about 8:15 a.m., with thousands of worshippers in attendance. The state Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is currently on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Sanusi arrived the prayer ground on foot and was surrounded by a large crowd of supporters. After the prayers, he walked back through the streets to Gidan Shettima, receiving cheers from residents dressed in colorful Sallah attire.
“It’s not the Durbar that makes Sallah special for us. What matters is the unity and faith. Seeing Sanusi walk among the people today meant everything to us,” said Saminu Yusuf, a resident of Dala.
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In a statement, Deputy Governor Gwarzo encouraged Muslims to use the Sallah celebration for reflection, peace, and prayer. He said Eid-el-Kabir teaches “sacrifice, obedience, and total submission to the will of Allah,” and he prayed for the safe return of pilgrims and reaffirmed the government’s focus on transparency and development.
At the same time, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero led a separate Eid prayer at the Nasarawa Mini Palace in the Nasarawa GRA. His gathering also drew a large crowd, including top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), such as the state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas.
In his Sallah message, Bayero urged the government to focus on improving people’s lives. “We call on the government to continue bringing development projects to the people,” he said in a statement by his spokesperson, Abubakar Balarabe.
He also prayed for peace and security and asked religious leaders to guide young people through teachings and sermons.
The holding of two parallel Eid prayers highlights the ongoing leadership tussle in Kano’s traditional institution, which has drawn national attention in recent months.