Part peacefully with Sarkin Bai
One of the most distressing side episodes to have come out of the ongoing tussle in Kano between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II was the announcement last week by the newly created Bichi Emirate Council that it had deposed four district heads under its jurisdiction. I am not familiar with three of them, but the fourth one, Sarkin Bai of Kano and District Head of Danbatta Alhaji Muhtari Adnan, is one of the oldest and best-known statesmen in the North.
He has been the District Head of Danbatta since 1954, and is the only surviving kingmaker among the ones that selected Alhaji Ado Bayero in 1963. He was a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 1954 to and 1966; was the NPC Chief Whip in the House; he featured in several memorable cat-and-mouse games with the Action Group opposition, and he had several very important motions to his name. He was also Kano State’s first Commissioner for Education upon its creation in 1967, and is the father of the state’s highly successful science secondary schools that were established in that era.
A man of that age and stature deserves some consideration. Now, I am aware that from the point of view of Bichi Emirate Council and Kano State Government, there is no bigger offence for a district head than to refuse to pay homage to the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero. In normal circumstances that is true but the circumstances here are hardly normal, given the historic dispute and commotion generated by the creation of new emirates in Kano.
In Kano as in the rest of Hausaland, one of the wisest sayings of elders when it comes to accommodating an old person is a lallaba a rabu lafiya. That is, let us manage with him and part peacefully. Sarkin Bai is 93. A little patience is needed in order to part peacefully. We would all be embarrassed when he passes and we will be shedding [crocodile] tears that the North has lost a great man. Giving age as an excuse, Sarkin Bai could send a representative or two to pay homage to the Emir of Bichi. The important thing here is, let us manage the situation and part peacefully.