Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has
rejected the nomination of Sheikh Nasir Muhammad
Nasir by the Kano Emirate Council for confirmation
as the new Wazirin Kano.
It would be recalled that an eminent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Isa
Waziri, who died on the 3rd of August last year, held the
traditional title of Wazirin Kano.
The emirate council nominated Sheikh Nasir, the Limamin
Masallacin Waje, (Fagge Jummat Mosque in the ancient city, as its
choice to replace late Isa Waziri as the Wazirin Kano. However,
the nomination was said to have been vehemently rejected by the
state government.
The council had in August last year, shortly after the death of the
former holder of the title, proposed Sheikh Nasir as replacement
but the Kwankwaso administration allegedly rejected the
proposal, citing some security concerns.
The state government was said to have written a protest letter to
the council, urging it not to go ahead with the appointment of
Sheikh Nasir pending investigation on some issues bordering on its
rumoured security concerns about the choice of the nominee.
But the emirate council went ahead and allegedly ignored the
request of the executive governor by appointing Sheikh Nasir last
week as the new Waziri, shortly after the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado
Bayero, returned from a long medical trip abroad.
The event at which the nominee’s name was announced, said to
have been attended by the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi
Umar Ganduje, who double as the state Commissioner for Local
Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, witnessed a twist when the
government objected to the choice of the Islamic cleric.
Our correspondent learnt that Ganduje immediately summoned a
meeting with Wamban Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, which lasted
about 20 minutes, during which he announced the disapproval of
the state governor to the choice of the nominee.
Similarly, another letter was said to have been sent to the emirate
council from the state government, threatening to either create
two additional emirate councils for Gaya and Karaye respectively
or dethrone Emir Bayero, in the event the council failed to reverse
the appointment.
This development allegedly prompted the council to summon an
emergency meeting Monday where the representative of the
Sultanate was sent to witness the deliberation, to resolve the
Our correspondent learnt that the emirate council, following wide
consultations, decided to reverse the appointment and is expected
to announce its decision today or tomorrow.
All efforts to get official confirmation of the feud, especially
Governor Kwankwaso’s alleged objection to the choice of Sheikh
Nasir, were unsuccessful as all top government officers contacted
preferred to keep sealed lips, while also urging not to be named in
our news report.
The late Sheikh Waziri, who succeeded his brother, Waziri Gidado,
and occupied the position for nine years, was appointed by the
Ado Bayero, who is vested with the power to select the occupant
of the office.
Until his death, Sheikh Waziri served as Shari’a court judge, school
teacher, Juma’at mosque imam and as a senior adviser to Kano
traditional ruler.
The source said that ‘without contradiction the real race to
succeed the Wazirin of Kano emirate council has not started. The
position is neither contested nor belongs to a particular family and
our custom permits only Emir Bayero to choose the new Waziri’.
Sheikh Nasir was also mentioned for Wazirin Kano office at the
time the late occupant was selected. He had led in Juma’at prayer
when the seat of the Imam of City Central Mosque was vacant and
sometimes led the Eid prayers at the City Eid Ground.
The Wazirin Kano title was adopted from the Sokoto Emirate
about 200 years ago during the reign of Emir Alu, who
compensated his elder brother, Ahmad, with the office after the
Kano civil war.
