By Abdulkadir Mohammed
The 2022 Traditional Sallah homage to the governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje failed to hold because the Governor had to attend to an “emergency meeting on important national issues in Abuja with other Governors on Monday.”
Kano State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, in a statement, which the Nigerian Kicker obtaind, gave the explanation on the absence of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to receive the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero at the Government House for the Traditional Hawan Nasarawa on Monday as part of activities marking this year’s Eid-el-Kabir Sallah celebrations.
“The Governor attended the Eid Prayer with the Emir at Kofar Mata Eid Praying Ground. He also received him afterwards at Gidan Shattima and attended the Traditional Hawan Daushe at the Emir’s Palace, Kano, on Sunday afternoon, before travelling to Abuja in the evening to join other governors for the meeting, as there was no representation,” Garba said.
The Information Commissioner further explained that after the meeting, the governors were also scheduled to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on its outcome the following day.
He added that two other persons who are qualified to stand in for the Governor in his absence for the Sallah homage without breaching the protocols or violating the Tradition are Deputy Governor, Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Malam Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, who are also away in the Holy Land for this year’s Hajj.
“Other official who can stand in that capacity in the absence of the three, is the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, who, fortunately, is the Wazirin Gaya, a traditional title holder under the Gaya Emirate Council which is desecration of standard protocol and the tradition,” he added.
The commissioner pointed out that even before the Governor travelled, he had discussions with the Emir on the new development and both had agreed that there would be no Sallah homage, but that the monarch would proceed with the traditional horse procession fleeting through the usual routes, including passing by the Government House.
Garba, therefore, dispelled rumour making the rounds that the Governor conspicuously shunned the Emir and therefore called on the people to disregard the tale which he described as the evil machination of some disgruntled elements in our midst bent on causing confusion.
