Much as the powers of the traditional rulers have been whittled down politically with the emergence of the nation state, they still wield a lot of influence among the people who revere their traditional norms. Thus, their relevance cannot be over-emphasized.
Kano is heartbeat of Northern Nigeria, the commercial nerve center of the North and the second biggest commercial city of Nigeria after Lagos. It is home to millions of Nigerians. Apart from being a commercial city, it is a political and richly cultural city. Kano relevance and prominence dates back to medieval era during the time of the Songhai and Mali Empires. Historically, Kano has existed as a city state for centuries before the establishment of the current Emirate in the wake of the Usman Dan Fodio Jihad of the nineteenth century. Kano Emirate has for over two centuries survived as one of the most prominent council in the country. It is therefore worrisome that one of the most revered emirate council is now embroiled in a leadership tussle that many believed was politically motivated.
The traditional institutions are revered because they are the custodian of our values and cultural ethos. Our traditional institutions have their rules and procedures. But when these rules are violated, crisis becomes inevitable. Before the coming of colonialism and the emergence of the country as one political entity, we have our traditional institutions. These institutions evolved over centuries of existence and interactions with our physical and social environment. They embody our culture and our philosophy of life. And the custodian of these traditional values are the kings, the Oba, the Emirs et cetera. Thus, an attack on these leaders who are the traditional head of the people is seen as an affront on the people and the institutions that they represent. The after effects of these violations are deep and dire and if not carefully managed can snowball into crisis of unimaginable proportion.
Much as the powers of the traditional rulers have been whittled down politically with the emergence of the nation state, they still wield a lot of influence among the people who revere their traditional norms. Thus, their relevance cannot be over-emphasized. And so it is counter intuitive to toy with this all-important traditional institution for flimsy reasons. The traditional institutions most times represent the people much more that the elected political figures.
Unfortunately, our politicians for selfish reasons have at different times tried to influence what happens in our palaces thereby creating tension, crisis and instability in the process. But, some believe that most of the crises in our palaces are caused by our traditional rulers who are supposed to be neutral and non-partisan and yet poke-nose into political matters. It is therefore believed that the governors always tend to reward the traditional ruler that supported their political ambition against the one that worked against them. It insinuated that this is what is playing out in the Kano Emirate council at the moment with the deposition of Ado Bayero and the restoration of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who was earlier deposed in 2017.
But beyond that, the brewing crisis is said to be externally sponsored to destabilize Kano. It is seen as an attempt to infiltrate Kano and create an atmosphere of instability and disunity in order to break Kano’s political influence in the North. Some observers believe that it is part of the 2027 election strategy of some power mongers in the Nigeria political sphere. But, whatever the reason is, it is wrong to create crisis in order to gain political advantage. It is equally wrong to punish one who has not done anything wrong just to reward one who supported your political ambition. Our political leaders should not be consumed by personal ambition. They should not use their office for personal vendetta. They should be mindful of the consequences of their actions. They should be guided by the ethics of public office. The interest of the people should be upper most in their mind when taking decisions. Those that removed Sanusi and brought Ado Bayero probably thought they will be in office forever. The current governor who want to depose Ado Bayero is fixated about returning Sanusi who allegedly worked for his electoral victory in Kano and is careless about the consequences of his decision.
My concern in the whole debacle is the fact that the weak and the vulnerable will most likely bear the brunt of the fight. It is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffer. Yes, the people at the grassroots will suffer the consequences of power tussle among the aristocrats. It is the alimajiris and the children of the poor that will be mobilized to fight. The fight will be done in the streets of the common man and in the domain of the poor. It is the activities of the poor peasants that will be disrupted. It is the poor and the weak that will be caught in the mayhem and be killed. It is the innocent that will suffer when the aristocrats go for settlement eventually.
With the Kano Alimajiri population of over five million, any crisis in Kano will spill over into other states of the federation. I will therefore use this medium to appeal to the feuding parties to sheath their sword in the interest of peace. I will appeal to the National Assembly and our respected elder statesmen to intervene in the matter to avoid the unsavory effect of power tussle. Our traditional rulers should respect their office as the father of all and maintain neutrality in political matters. Politicians should desist from desecrating our traditional institutions and values. Most of the problems we have today as nation is traceable to these lack of reverence to our sacred institutions.
Hajia Hadiza Mohammed
An actress, social activist, politician
London, UK