A rare and dramatic scene unfolded in Kano on Friday as three powerful figures — Muhammadu Sanusi II, Aminu Ado Bayero, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso — held separate Eid-el-Fitr prayers, exposing deepening cracks within the state’s leadership.
For the first time in years, Kano’s traditional unity during Eid celebrations gave way to visible division, with each camp organising its own prayer ground.
Sanusi II, the 16th Emir of Kano, led prayers at Kofar Mata Eid Ground, drawing top government officials, including Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other key dignitaries. His sermon reportedly focused on unity and peaceful coexistence.
At the same time, the 15th Emir, Bayero, held a parallel prayer at the Nasarawa Palace, where clerics emphasised peace, stability, and support for order in the state.
Not to be left out, Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, conducted his own Eid prayer at his residence mosque along Miller Road, attended by loyalists and political allies.
Despite the separate gatherings, all three camps echoed similar messages of unity — a striking contrast to the underlying tensions driving the division.
The split traces back to the lingering emirate crisis, which saw Sanusi II dethroned in 2020 and replaced by Bayero, before being reinstated in 2024 — creating parallel claims to the throne.
Political realignments have further intensified the situation, especially following Governor Yusuf’s controversial shift in allegiance, deepening existing fractures.
Traditionally, Eid prayers in Kano have always been a symbol of unity, bringing together the Emir, political leaders, and residents at a single central ground.
However, this year’s triple prayer scenario signals a significant shift — one that reflects both political rivalry and unresolved traditional disputes shaping the future of the state.
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