The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Tuesday night met behind closed doors with a delegation representing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, shortly after hosting senior government officials to an Iftar at his palace.
The meeting took place at the historic Gidan Rumfa and has intensified speculation about the Kano State Government’s position on the ongoing emirship dispute.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, confirmed that the delegation held a private discussion with the monarch following the Iftar.
He disclosed that the delegation included the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ibrahim; the Chief of Staff, Sulaiman Wali Sani; and himself.
The development comes as uncertainty continues to surround the future of the traditional Durbar festival, a long-standing cultural event in Kano, amid mixed signals from government authorities about whether it will take place this year.
The confusion is tied to the unresolved legal tussle between Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero over the Kano emirship.
Despite Governor Yusuf’s decision to reinstate Sanusi II in 2024, Bayero has maintained his legal challenge against the move, leaving the royal seat contested.
Although the state government has recently suggested that a resolution may be near, the Iftar gathering and subsequent meeting have been widely seen as an indication of closer alignment between the administration and Sanusi II.
With the Sallah celebration drawing near, attention is now on whether the Durbar festival will hold and under whose authority it will be conducted.
