Kehinde Fajobi
The Kano State Government has held the Federal Government responsible for the blockade of the Emir’s palace on Friday.
Armed police officers and operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) sealed off the entrance to the palace, causing a tense situation in the area.
According to reports, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II was scheduled to address economists regarding the ongoing debate over tax reform bills in the National Assembly.
The Emir was also meant to accompany his newly appointed district head, Munir Sanusi, to Bichi.
At the time of the blockade, the Emir was holding court in the outer palace. The security forces prevented access to the palace while he later led Friday prayers at the Kano Central Mosque.
Reacting to the incident, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, the Secretary to the State Government, condemned the blockade and accused the Federal Government of orchestrating the action.
Speaking on a local radio station, Bichi said, “We were really surprised waking up to this development with police sealing off the entrance to the palace of Kano Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II.”
He added, “What surprises us the most is that Kano is peaceful but it’s just a few people that have backing from Abuja that don’t want Kano to be peaceful.”
Bichi went on to explain the Emir’s plans for the day: “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.”
Concluding his remarks, he said, “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.”