By Bashir Mohammed
A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has said that it was wrong for the federal government to order security operatives to barricade the entrance to the Kano Emir’s Palace “simply because the new emir Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Lamido is not in the good books of President Goodluck Jonathan.”
Speaking in an interview with newsmen shortly after the new emir entered the palace, Bauchi wondered why Jonathan should be stampeded into taking the decision to mount security operatives at the palace, stressing that the issue of emership was traditional and so was not in any way the business of the federal government.
He said: “It is too anachronistic for the federal government to behave in the manner that would tarnish the image of the president. Emership tussle is traditional ad not the business of those who are not related to the succession tussle.”
Bauchi, who also directed followers of the Tijjaniyyia sect to offer special prayers on the succession debacle, called on the Dabo ruling monarchy in Kano to unite and fight the forces of acrimony and disunity “whose negative antics are inimical to the interest of the monarchy.”
Speaking in the same vein, a former civilian governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, said the power of appointing emir was vested in the governor and that no decision should be taken to supersede the governor’s decision.
“Jonathan should know that the governor has the constitutional power to appoint an emir. It is not all about primordial consideration. The president is just crying wolf where there is none.”
Musa said it was wrong for anyone to hide under the guise of the emirship tussle to massage his political ego, stressing, however, that in an event of any conflagration those fanning the embers of dissension could easily be the target.
He called on the people to bury the hatchet and extend a helping hand to the new emir, saying that peace could only prevail if the much-needed support was given.