Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf did not attend the customary Sallah homage on Sunday when the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, visited the Government House.
The Hawan Nasarawa, a traditional durbar procession usually held on the third day of Sallah celebrations, is the moment when the governor formally greets the Emir before he travels designated routes across the city to receive well-wishes from residents.
This year, the event saw notable changes. Instead of Governor Yusuf, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Jibril Falgore, received the Emir in a separate hall rather than the usual venue, the Africa House.
Though the state government has not released an official explanation, sources suggested that Governor Yusuf was attending another meeting inside the Government House. Other reports speculated he might have been in Lagos State at the time. Efforts to reach the governor’s spokesperson were unsuccessful.
Earlier in the week, the state government had imposed restrictions on durbar activities, including banning horses, citing security concerns. Ibrahim Waiya, the government’s spokesperson, said the decision was based on intelligence indicating potential unrest during the Sallah period.
Waiya explained that the first day of the Eid celebration would see the Emir proceed from Kofar Mata Praying Ground to Gidan Shettima and end at Kofar Fatalwa within the Kano Emir’s Palace. Hawan Nasarawa would take place in a modified form without horses, while other processions like Hawan Daushe, Hawan Fanisau, and Hawan Dorayi were suspended to ensure public safety.
The governor’s absence has stirred debate among Kano residents, especially after he attended a similar durbar at Gaya Emirate the previous day. The Hawan Nasarawa remains a central highlight of the Sallah celebrations, reflecting the longstanding respect between the state government and traditional institutions.
