Tale of Two Kano Emirs: Bayero’s First Public Trip Outside Mini Palace

• Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero made his first public appearance since his dethronement, attending a peace prayer event in Kano
• The 16th Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, also engaged publicly after a court ruling reinstating him, highlighting ongoing leadership tensions

The ongoing saga of the two Emirs of Kano Emirate took an intriguing turn on Saturday as Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, made his first public appearance since his return to Kano. Bayero attended the annual peace prayer organized by the Isyaku Rabiu family. During the first Islamic month, the Holy Qur’an is recited up to 3000 times to pray for the nation’s peace, prosperity, and progress.

Alhaji Bayero’s participation in the last day of prayers marks his first official outing since the Kano State government’s controversial dethronement. He gracefully moved from the Nassarawa mini palace to the Isyaku Rabiu mosque at Goron Dutse and returned to the heavily guarded palace via the same route.

This public appearance follows a significant court ruling that the Governor Abba Yusuf-led administration annulled his dethronement. Bayero’s public venture is notable, given that he has been residing in the Nassarawa mini palace since the court’s decision.

Just 72 hours earlier, the 16th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, made his first official public engagement in Kano following a court ruling reversing his reinstatement to the revered throne. Sanusi moved from the Gidan Rumfa Palace to the State Government House, where he met with the newly appointed second-class Emirs of Gaya, Rano, and Karaye.

The new second-class royal fathers are Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, Emir of Karaye; Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir Gaya, Emir of Gaya; and Alhaji Muhammad Isa Umar, Emir of Rano. Before these appointments, Alhaji Karaye was the District Head of Rogo, Alhaji Umar was the District Head of Bunkure, and Alhaji Gaya was the recently dethroned Emir of the defunct Gaya Emirate.

These developments follow the signing of the Kano State Emirate Council Establishment Bill 2024 into law by the governor on Tuesday, further adding complexity to the Kano Emirate’s traditional leadership dynamics.