From Desmond Mgboh Kano
A pressure group, Auspicious Rakibu Development Association of Rano-Kibiya-Bunkure Community, has urged Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to disregard any pressure from any quarter to scrap the newly created additional four emirate councils in the state.
The group spoke through their leader, Wali Ado, during a press conference at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, yesterday.
He said the existence of the four emirates represented the collective aspiration of the majority of their people, adding that the emirates were not meant to spite any individual, group or institution in the state.
He reasoned that the bond of brotherhood between the people of the new emirates and those of Kano Emirate Council would continue to remain cordial.
Wali said the act of upgrading traditional rulers is not a novel practice in Nigeria.
He said: “The promotion of village heads to district or district heads to emirs has been a continuous right from the Fulani Jihad to the present day. The sustenance of our hitherto existing emirates as well as upgrading of district to emirates should not be viewed with negative political connotation.
“Rano had existed as an autonomous kingdom and ruled by several Kings Kwarrarfa and Habe, Rano had continued to be an independent entity with many towns and villages under its domain.
“In fact, Rano like Kano was one of the famous seven Hausa states founded by the legendary of Bagauda. Even, the Fulani Jihad did not deprive Rano of its continuous existence as an independent kingdom.
“It was the same destructive colonial force that took away its emirate ship in 1908 and reduced it to a district status, having been forcefully annexed to Kano emirate.”
Wali expressed optimism that the governor will not listen to those calling for the dissolution of the emirates while imploring the people to continue to pray.