The Kano State Government has accused the Federal Government of orchestrating the barricade of the palace of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, by security operatives on Friday.
The Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, made the allegation during a local radio programme.
He expressed shock over the incident, stating, “We were really surprised waking up to this development with police sealing off the entrance to the palace of Kano Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
“What surprises us the most is that Kano is peaceful but it’s just a few people that have the backing of Abuja that don’t want Kano to be peaceful.
“The emir was to escort his district head of Bichi, Wamban Kano, pray with him there and then come back. We were all invited and then we woke up to this. We asked the reason and they told us it was an order given to them from above. Who is there above? It’s the Federal Government.
“We in Kano have resolved to stay in peace, peace will reign and nobody will come to Kano and destabilize that.
“The emir has appointed the district head and it stands, he will take him to his place and whenever he is ready to go there we are going there with him, no going back,” Bichi stated.
Earlier on Friday, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II led the congregational prayer at the Kano Central Mosque outside the palace. In his sermon, the emir urged the people of Kano to remain calm and avoid violence.
He said, “I warned you against falling into the traps of Kano enemies who want to see Kano on fire. They always want to see killings, destruction of public properties, and maiming of innocent lives.”
On the same day, security operatives, including the police and the Department of State Services barricaded the Emir’s palace. Sources within the palace indicated that the blockade might have been an attempt to prevent the emir from accompanying his newly appointed Wamban Kano and District Head of Bichi, Munir Sanusi, to his district post in Bichi. Other sources suggested it could be related to the emir’s planned meeting with economists regarding proposed tax reform bills.
