The New Emirates Of Kano State

By Abubakar Muhammad Musa (Saraki)

Since when rift started and the tussle between Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the then Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II linger, which as a result, four new additional Emirates; Bichi, Rano, Karaye and Gaya Emirates was created with the first-class status out of the ancient Kano Emirate.

The ascension of Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Fulani Emir of Kano

Before the creation of the four additional Emirates, Kano Emirate has the full 44 Local Government Areas of the state with 44 to 55 District Heads, but after the creation of the four additional Emirates on 8 May  2019, the Emirate(s) split as follows:

Kano Emirate has ten Local Government Areas under it;

1. Kano Municipal Council
2. Tarauni
3. Dala
4. Nassarawa
5. Fagge
6. Kumbotso
7. Ungogo
8. Gwale
9. Dawakin Kudu and
10. Minjibir

Bichi Emirate has 9 Local Government Areas;

1. Bichi
2. Bagwai
3. Shanono
4. Tsanyawa
5. Kunci
6. Makoda
7. Dambatta
8. Dakin Tofa and
9. Tofa

Rano Emirate has the following Local Government Areas;

1. Rano
2. Bunkure
3. Kibiya
4. Sumaila
5. Takai
6. Doguwa
7. Tudunwada
8. Kura
9. Kiru and
10. Bebeji

Gaya Emirate has the following Local Government Areas:

1. Gaya
2. Ajingi
3. Albasu
4. Wudil
5. Garko
6. Warawa
7. Gezawa and
8. Gabasawa

Karaye Emirate include:

1. Karaye
2. Kabo
3. Gwarzo
4. Garun Malam
5. Madobi
6. Rogo and
7. Rimin Gado

Many people reacted to this, where they commentate and analyzes the development, some analyzed the situation professionally in an unbiased way, some spoke furiously against the development, it may be as a result of political differences that exists in the entire State, Royal Politricks within the Royal Corridor of Dabo House, some people spoke base on the levels of their understandings.

Two Prince of Kano Emirate and Emirs

Surely, Historically, Kano after the Jihad, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye has Ward Heads, in which they were elevated to District Heads, but in the name of Chiefs and it was sealed. And for Bichi, after the creation of Districts, it becomes a District under Sullubawa Clan.

According to Law, State Governor is superior to an Emir, but traditionally and Historically, people have very high regard for an Emir more than any other politician, whether he is a State Governor or even the President himself, because Emirates and Emirs are products of Shehu Usman Bin Fodio’s Jihad, thus, people are regarding them as representatives of the Islamic Reformer, Shehu Danfodio.

Despite the seizure of absolute power of Emirs by Colonial Masters then, and now by politicians, the Emirs are the authorities that are close to people, Emirs are more kind to their people than today’s politicians.

Like many others  has it at the back of their minds, even the then Bichi Emir (now Emir of Kano) said it during a Press Conference at Bichi Emir’s Palace, where he said:

“the world is dynamic, and that dynamism brought about the change Kano State/Emirate witnessed… And in case of any change that may arise, I am ever ready to embrace it with an open heart and in good faith”

In our view, we are not in support of splitting the ancient Kano Emirate into 5, we hope one day Almighty Allah will destine it to become one once again, just the way destiny destined it to be split into five now, and if Allah destined that the new Emirates came to stay, we pray for the best out of the development.

Our love and respect for the then Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the Emirate cannot be an excuse for us to become disobedient citizens, since the Governor has the right to do what he has done, according to Law.

Though the new Emir is not flag bearers of Shehu Usman Bin Fodio, nobody, I repeat nobody can stop them from being bonafide members of their famous family houses, they are members of Reform (Jihad) house, and they participated in Kano Jihad, though they did not migrate.

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Apart from that, history has recognized the way in which they obeyed Sullubawa Clan and there is inter-marriage between themselves that started from their forefathers to date. For example, the Emir of Karaye married one of the daughters of late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, Emir of Gaya married a daughter of Barde Kerarriya, Kabiru Bayero, everybody knows that Binta (Magajiya), the eldest daughter of Emir of Kano, Abdullahi Maje Karofi was the one that born Emir of Rano, Yusuf Maimota, not to talk of an Alpha and Omega, Aminu Ado Bayero, (the then Emir of Bichi, now Emir of Kano). So, as everybody can see it, all the Emirs are biologically related, Islamically bound and they are part of each other in the history of Jihad.

Thus, vulgar, open abuse, innuendos, unnecessary critics in the name of supporting Dr. “A”, Alhaji “B”, Engr. “C” or Malam “D” is nothing but purely futile and the showcase of illiteracy and a high level of arrogancy.

Whoever claims to love Dabo Ruling House of Kano Emirate, will and must be respecting every member of the house. Therefore, there will be no reason of whatsoever for anyone to be mocking or even openly abusing these Emirs of the Kano Emirates, most especially Aminu Ado Bayero, in the name of being a sympathizer, a cherisher or well-wishers of Muhammadu Sanusi II, also disrespecting the State Governor in the name of being a die heart of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has not and will never pay.

In the history of Kano State, it’s only Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje that turbaned six Emirs and dethroned only one within a year.

Allah ya tabbatar Mana da alheran da ke tattare da wadannan sabobbin masarautu, Allah ya kiyaye Sharrorin da ke ciki ko Sharrorin da ka iya gittawa, Allah ka hada kawunan gidan hijira da gidan jihadi.

Acknowledgment: A Special Royal Salute to a historian per excellence, a Royalist and a grandson of Sarkin Kano Ibrahim Dabo, Alhaji Abdulkadir Sani Koguna.

Abubakar Muhammad Musa(Saraki) is a Public and Current Affairs Commentator, Historian, and Linguist. He can be reached via linguistmam@gmail.com  or @linguistmam  via Twitter