REINSTATED Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and his recently deposed counterpart, Ado Bayero, are set to hold Jumm’at separately in their different mosques on Friday, May 31.
According to a report, both emirs issued separate statements inviting residents to join the Jumm’at prayers to be held in their separate palaces.
The emirs have held separate courts since last week when Bayero was deposed and Sanusi reinstated.
Bayero was deposed along with four other emirs in the state on Thursday, May 23, when the state legislators abolished the existing five emirates and revived the single emirate system in the state.
Following the dethronement, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf reinstated Sanusi, who was dethroned under the previous administration led by Abdullahi Ganduje.
The reinstatement occurred despite a court order restricting the governor from reinstating the former emir.
However, Bayero refused to relinquish his position and returned to the city on Saturday, May 25, in the company of security officials.
Various contradictory court orders have been issued by both state and federal high courts on the legitimacy of both emirs, leaving many people confused about the position of the law.
The contradictory court orders have been condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which described them as shameful and damaging to the legal profession.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola summoned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge of Kano State High Court over conflicting interim injunctions regarding the emirate.
District heads and members of the Islamic sect, Tijjaniyya Shura Council, have pledged their support to Sanusi as Bayero also enjoys his wide support across the state.
To avoid chaos, the state governor, Abba Yusuf, has banned any form of protest in the state.
The ICIR reports that it remains unclear who will ultimately win the tussle for the Kano emir between Sanusi and Bayero as the battle for the throne rages on.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.