By Ismail Auwal
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has become the first governor in history of the state to forfeit attending the annual traditional Sallah Dubar popularly known as “Hawan Nassarawa”, in over 100 years.
Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero at this year’s annual celebration also became the first emir in history of the state not to visit the Kano State Government House, due to the conspicuous absence of Governor Ganduje and other high profile government officials.
SAHELIAN TIMES exclusively gathered that since the start of the Hawan Nassarawa procession in the early 1900s by Emir Muhammadu Abbas, who visited colonial residents in Kano two days after Sallah to pay homage, succeeding Emirs have to the present day kept up with the tradition.
However, in a surprise twist, the Governor has shunned this year’s celebration “without giving any explantion”, according to an insider.
A source said that the governor has recently been busy with national politics for the, and that might have resulted in his absence.
An academician with interest in the history of the Kano Emirate, Sadiq Sheshe, recounted that the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, shunned visiting the Government House during the Audu Bako administration to prevent clashes between his supporters and those of the governor.
“But Audu Bako was then in the Government House, so it was the then emir’s decision not to pay homage,” the academician added.
He also noted that during the Kwankwaso led administration, the Hawan Nassarawa was once cancelled from holding due to heightened insecurity in the state.
“It was not recorded in over 100 years history where a sitting Governor refused to attend to an Emir on Hawan Nassarawa”, he said.
