Members of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have begun moves to ensure reconciliation between the governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
Daily Trust reports that the forum is expected to lead top-notch leaders to have meetings with elders and Kano stakeholders over the crisis between the emir and the governor.
It was gathered that invitations had already been sent to some of the stakeholders ahead of the meeting which is scheduled to hold at the Tahir Guest Palace in Kano state.
A copy of the letter signed by the chairman of the forum, Ango Abdullahi and sent out said members of the forum will interact with Governor Ganduje and Emir Sanusi.
The letter read in part: “The crisis, we are afraid, is pregnant with unforeseen circumstances that ultimately threaten the integrity of the entire Kano traditional institution, overall peace and security of the state, and by extension, the cohesion of the northern region.”
“It is our hope that this intervention would finally get to the root of the matter and find a lasting solution with mutual understanding and respect so that the state can move on,” the letter said.
Confirming a receipt of the letter, the Walin Kano, Bashir Wali, said he would not be able to attend the meeting due to his health challenge.
“I have received an invitation. I personally told Professor Abdullahi that I would not make it to the meeting because of the condition of my health.”
He also that his team will be meeting earlier before the scheduled meeting then interact with invited personalities before meeting with the governor and the emir separately.
“It is after they meet with the two leaders separately that they will meet with them together when the need arises.”
“There is no way the team can succeed in their efforts to reconcile the two leaders without hearing from each of them in a separate meeting before meeting them together.”
“I am in support of this effort because the Kano traditional institution and the state, in general, are being affected negatively by this crisis, and unless something is done to address the problem, it will not augur well for the state and the northern region as well,” Wali added.
Contrarily, the chief press secretary to the governor, Abba Anwar, said no invitation was received by the Kano state government on the said meeting.
Anwar said: “We didn’t receive any letter from anybody, not to talk of what will be the subject of discussion. We don’t know what they are up to.”
“All we know is that we have our law establishing our newly created first-class emirates of Bichi, Karaye, Rano and Gaya. And we have since started implementing the law. It is as simple as ABC,” Anwar added.
He also said that no influence will make the Kano state government renege on its creation of four new emirates as they have come to stay.