Alhaji Ado Bayero

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

As Muslims throughout Nigeria join their counterparts in other parts of the world for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration following the end of the Ramadan fasting saturday, the fear of attacks from the dreaded Boko Haram sect rather than the much-touted fragile health of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, was the major reason for the ‘historic’cancellation of this year’s durbar in Kano, THISDAY has learnt .

Though the cancellation of Sallah celebrations by the emirate council was received in Kano as a welcome development considering the state  of health of the Emir, many residents hailed the decision because of the security challenges being experienced in the state in the last eight months.

Though this year will be the first time in 50 years that the festivities would be jettisoned, THISDAY  gathered that  when the news of the cancellation of the durbar filtered in, many considered it as appropriate given the current security challenges facing the state.

‘There is no doubt that Bayero is sick and everyone who sees him can attest to the fact that the Emir’s state of health is something to consider in cancelling  the sallah festivities. Most of his  close aides were of the view that the cancellation was in the best for the interest of the emir and his entire well wishers,” a source at the palace told THISDAY in Kano saturday.

Kano Emirate Senior Councilor and Wamban Kano,  Alhaji Abbas Sanusi, who also cited the Emir’s failing health as the major reason for the cancellation of the event,   said after a meeting with the Emir alongside all his district heads and other Kano traditional title holders, it was decided to cancel the celebrations.