From our correspondent, in Kano
A new twist has added to the brewing Kano Emirate tussle today, as citizens of Bichi, one of the five emirates scrapped by the newly amended law by the Kano State House of Assembly, have demanded the immediate restoration of their Emirate by the state government.
The demand was made under the auspices of ‘Inuwar Al’ummar Masarautar Bichi ‘, which translated means Bichi Emirate Forum.
They are insisting that they would not accept any decision except the reversal of the law that will restore their emirate.
The Forum spoke at a press conference at the residence of the Makaman Bichi, Umar Tofa in Kano.
Secretary of the forum, Engr. Bello Gambo Bichi said the formation of the five emirates by the former administration of Abdullahi Ganduje has brought speedy development to the areas.
According to him, since inception, the Bichi emirate has witnessed development in the areas of health, education, economy and infrastructure.
He said “since the establishment of Bichi emirate, over 3,000 youths have been employed. We have witnessed even development in different areas.
” We have seen developmental projects springing up in the emirate in the area of health, education, economy and infrastructure.
“That is why we have vehemently rejected this law and will continue to fight it,” he said.
According to the Secretary, there are cultural development that the emirate had recorded, such as moon sighting, Sallah durbar, among others.
“Prior to the establishment of the Bichi emirate, traditional title holders, Imams and Ulamas had to travel to Kano to give information on moon sightings.
“Also during Sallah, we had to transport our horses to Kano for Sallah durbar. But after the establishment of the Emirate, everything had become closer to us. So, dissolving the emirate is something unacceptable to us,” he said.
Gambo insisted that the Bichi people are ready to resist any move by the state government to impose a second-class emir or even district head in the local government.
He said that the entire people in the 19 local government areas under Bichi emirate have vehemently rejected the new law and would not obey it.
On his part, the Chairman of the forum, Aminu Abdulrahman Bichi called on authorities to intervene and compel Kano state assembly to reverse the new law.
Abdulrahman described the government ‘s decision as unwise and selfish for dissolving the emirates, which according to him, serve as development centres.
He also called on the state government to immediately reverse the law.
