New Emirates Have Come To Stay, Ganuje Says

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has declared that the newly created four emirate councils have come to stay, insisting that they were created in good faith without any ulterior motive to hurt anybody or group of individuals.

Ganduje reiterated his total support for smooth-running of the newly created emirates.

He said: “As a son of a village head (Dagaci), how can I do something that would jeopardise the corporate existence of our long-standing heritage?

“If you count my ancestors, not less than 10 of them were village heads up to my biological father. So, I really don’t understand when people say my government is up for harming this noble institution.”

The governor spoke yesterday when he visited Rano Emir’s Palace over the death of Justice Wada Rano’s wife, Hajiya Khadija Wada Rano, after visiting the family house of the deceased in Rano Local Government.

He noted that when he was signing the law establishing the four additional emirate councils of Rano, Bichi, Karaye and Gaya, he made it clear that the aim for the new councils was primarily to push development closer to the people at the grassroots.

After inauguration for his second term in office, Ganduje said: “We will come up with new and modern strategy for the development of our state. Such a strategy would incorporate our emirate councils. That was why we realised the need for having these emirate councils.”

Ganduje added that his administration needed to give booster to the existing traditional institution “through waking up the sleeping traditional institution”.

The Rano Emirate Council, the governor recounted, was also part of the places where Shehu Dan Fodio recognised and gave flags to.

“The Rano Emirate Council was part of the original Dan Fodio Caliphate,” he said.

Ganduje said after his inauguration for the second term, his administration would work hand-in-hand with Rano Emirate Council to organise security summit on the area covering Falgore forest up to border towns around Saminaka in Kaduna State.

“The security situation must be improved. We will, therefore, work in tandem with our respected and respectful Emirates to bring forth a more secure environment. Our traditional institutions being closer to the people should know all movements of people surrounding them, particularly strangers,” he instructed.