For the first time in recent years, Kano State witnessed three separate Eid-el-Fitr prayers, a development that underscores widening divisions within the state’s traditional and political leadership.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, led the Eid prayer at the Kofar Mata Eid Ground at about 8:00 a.m. The prayer attracted top government officials and residents, including Governor Abba Kabir 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, disclosed that the sermon centred on unity, peace, and harmonious coexistence among the people of Kano.
Meanwhile, the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, conducted a separate Eid prayer at the Nasarawa Palace at roughly the same time. The prayer was led by Sheikh Kamaluddeen Albasa, who also emphasised unity, peace, and the need to support stability in the state.
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According to the Emir’s spokesperson, Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Na’isa, prominent personalities in attendance included the Director-General of the National Productivity Centre, Baffa Babba Dan Agundi; former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji; former APC State Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas; and former Kano Municipal Local Government Chairman, Fa’izu Alfindiki.
Simultaneously, the National Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, held his Eid prayer at his residence mosque along Miller Road. He was joined by the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam 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 Eid prayers highlight ongoing tensions in Kano, rooted in the 2020 emirate crisis, which led to the dethronement of Sanusi II and the installation of Bayero, as well as the 2024 reinstatement of Sanusi II, developments that have resulted in parallel royal authorities.
Political realignments have further deepened the divide, particularly following the defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the NNPP to the APC.
Historically, Eid prayers in Kano have served as a unifying platform, bringing together the Emir, political leaders, and residents at the Kofar Mata Eid Ground. The current situation, however, marks a significant departure from this long-standing tradition, reflecting growing rifts within the state’s traditional and political structures.