- Protest as Sanusi rides horse to Independence Anniversary celebration
The royal feud in Kano escalated on Thursday into defiance on horseback, as Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II rode to a public event, days after the Kano State Government restricted horse-riding activities and Durbar processions in the metropolis
The seeming daring move, which saw Sanusi riding a horse to attend Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary celebration at the Sani Abacha Stadium, instantly drew sharp reactions from the camp of his rival, the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, further straining the state’s fragile royal landscape.
Reports of the fast-moving event indicated that Emir Sanusi initially departed his palace in a motor vehicle to attend the Anniversary celebration, but there was a switch upon reaching Kofar Mata as the monarch abruptly ditched his vehicle, mounted a horse, and paraded directly into the venue where Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and top dignitaries were already assembled.
Also, the return journey following the conclusion of the state ceremony had Emir Sanusi riding the horse back to the palace, flanked by massive crowds of cheering supporters along the route.
No Love Lost
As expected, the simmering royalty feud in the ancient Kano city erupted into fresh hostility with the Bayero camp launching an immediate counter-offensive following a controversial move by the state government.
Clearly angered by what they considered a blatant breach of official directives by Sanusi, the loyalists of Bayero openly demanded to know what disciplinary actions the state intends to enforce, with Aminu Babba Dan’agundi, a senior heavyweight in Emir Bayero’s council holding the title of Sarkin Dawaki Babba, stepped forward to challenge the government.
Questioning the visual of a double standard by the government, took center stage, Dan’agundi, said: “We are closely watching”, warning that the camp is actively monitoring the state’s body language and waiting to see if it will penalize Muhammadu Sanusi II’s defiant actions.
For now, a deceptive calm hangs over the faction, even as Dan’agundi confirmed that supporters of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero will deliberately hold their fire and await the strategic return of the monarch, who is currently out of town, before executing their next political or traditional maneuver.
However, the camp has already laid down a high-stakes ultimatum, insisting that if the state’s restrictive orders are meant to bind all traditional rulers equally, then they are ready to mount their own spectacular, horse-riding procession across Kano.
According to Dan’agundi, the planning will commence immediately upon consultation with the 15th Emir, with strong indications emerging that this retaliatory royal march is designed to reclaim lost ground.
The Council chief hinted that the planned procession will sweep into Yakasai to host a massive Qur’anic graduation ceremony, the very same historic event that was previously paralyzed by the government’s restrictive clampdown.
The Looming Standoff
Moving to underscore the high-stakes tension gripping the state, factional officials hinted that the exact date, time, and tactical details of the planned procession remain strictly under wraps, adding that the public will be duly notified once Emir Aminu Ado Bayero returns to the capital and concludes critical, high-level consultations with his traditional council.
The Blanket Ban
Interestingly, this latest development comes on the heels of a sweeping, indefinite crackdown by the Kano State Government, which abruptly banned all forms of traditional Durbar processions and public horse-riding activities across the metropolitan area on September 27 in what sources described as preventive security measures to maintain the fragile peace in the state.
The Defiant Procession
Government insiders stated that the state’s drastic embargo was triggered by a sudden, unannounced procession led by Emir Bayero through the heart of Kano, a spectacle that drew immense crowds, with thousands of fervent supporters lining the streets as the monarch made his way to a Qur’anic school graduation ceremony in Yakasai.
Security Fears Ignite
Bayero’s sudden outing and the massive display of public loyalty actually caught authorities off guard with the State government moving quickly to calm frayed nerves from the opposing Sanusi’s camp. Pointedly defending the strict shutdown, officials of Kano government revealed the decision was forged during an emergency, late-night session of the State Security Council.
It was reliably gathered that intelligence reports flashed warning signs over the volatile mobilization of rival factions loyal to the two competing claimants to the historic Kano throne, sparking deep fears that a bloody, street-level confrontation was imminent.
The Direct Ultimatum
Leaving no room for compromise, the government has ordered a massive deployment of law enforcement, explicitly directing security agencies to ruthlessly enforce the ban. Officers have been granted full authority to take decisive legal action against any agitators who defy the restriction or engage in any behavior threatening the fragile peace of the ancient city.
Seedbed Of The Crisis
Ever since the Kano State Government erased the five-emirate structure and engineered the dramatic return of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, the state has been locked in a cold war for traditional supremacy.
This rivalry is physically etched into the city’s geography: Sanusi commands the ancestral Gidan Rumfa palace with the full weight of the state behind him, while Aminu Ado Bayero maintains a defiant, parallel court from the Nasarawa mini-palace.
Given the latest twist in this saga, the friction between both factions is set to intensify, turning the city’s public spaces into a ideological battleground as the two opposing sides organize competing traditional activities.
