Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has held a closed-door meeting with the Sarkin Dawaki Babba, Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’agundi, who is the Senior Counsellor to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.
The meeting, which comes amid renewed tension over the Kano Emirate, reportedly took place at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
According to a source familiar with the development, the meeting lasted for nearly two hours. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Dan’agundi was invited by the governor for the private talks but did not disclose what was discussed.
The engagement is significant as Dan’agundi is a prominent figure in the camp of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero. He had recently stated that he has “a lot of respect” for Governor Yusuf while commenting on developments around the emirate dispute.
The meeting is coming at a time of fresh controversy over horse-riding and traditional processions involving the two rival emirate camps.
On October 1, Dan’agundi had said supporters of Aminu Ado Bayero would await the Emir’s return before announcing plans for a traditional horse-riding procession to Yakasai, where the monarch was expected to attend a Qur’anic graduation ceremony.
His comment followed the appearance of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, on horseback during an Independence Day event in Kano, despite the state government’s restriction on horse-riding and Durbar activities. The development raised concerns of a possible confrontation between supporters of the two camps.
In a related development, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, on Wednesday visited Aminu Ado Bayero at the Nassarawa Palace and appealed to him to shelve the planned procession to Yakasai in the interest of peace.
Bakori also appealed to Dan’agundi to continue to encourage the monarch to cooperate with security authorities to maintain public order.
The police intervention came after Bayero formally notified security agencies of his intention to embark on the procession. While noting that security regulations require at least 72 hours’ written notice for public horse-riding or Durbar activities, Bakori appealed to the Emir to travel to the venue by vehicle instead.
The Kano Emirate dispute dates back to March 2020 when former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje dethroned Muhammadu Sanusi II and installed Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir after splitting the emirate into five.
In May 2024, Governor Yusuf repealed the law establishing the five emirates and reinstated Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano, a decision rejected by Bayero, who has continued to operate from the Nassarawa Palace as the tussle remains in court.
With the latest Durbar row threatening to escalate tension, the meeting between Governor Yusuf and Dan’agundi is being seen as part of efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state.
However, as at the time of filing this report, neither the governor nor Dan’agundi has issued an official statement on the outcome of the closed-door meeting.
