A delegation of 103 elders from the Kano South Senatorial Zone, which includes Rano, Gaya, and Karaye, on Wednesday, demanded the reinstatement of the five Emirates abolished by the state government to avoid marginalization and stalling development and progress in their communities.
The delegation, consisting of former commissioners and other notable figures, was led by Musa Salihu Doguwa, a former Commissioner under the Ibrahim Shekarau administration. Doguwa urged the state government to consider the social and infrastructural development achieved after the creation of the five Emirates by the previous administration of Abdullahi Ganduje.
“We stand here today to highlight the immense progress and development that the upgrade of the new Emirates in southern Kano brought about under the visionary leadership of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. This transformative initiative paved the way for urban upgrades and the expansion of critical infrastructure in the capital and surrounding areas of the Emirates, ushering in a new era of prosperity and growth.
“It is important to note that the new Emirates in Kano South—Gaya, Rano, and Karaye—evolved as separate chiefdoms with a rich historical background. These Emirates represent a significant portion of the total population of Kano, which is currently projected to be 15,462,200.
“Before their restoration and creation, the absence of tertiary healthcare and educational institutions in these Emirates had stalled human progress and development,” he stated.
The group lamented the marginalization that hinders social and infrastructural development in the Emirates and their concentration in Kano. “Furthermore, the span of administrative control in each of the Emirates had hindered their progress due to marginalization, leading to an over-concentration of social amenities and law enforcement resources in Kano City alone. The lack of decentralized development efforts had deprived these Emirates of the necessary resources for social and economic growth.
“The decision to amend the regressive Emirate law by the State Assembly members and hastily assented to by the current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is a significant setback to the progress and development of the Emirates. This move not only stripped us of our heritage and potential for growth but also threatened to reverse the positive trajectory that had been set in motion by the previous administration,” he added.