Kano witnessed an unusual and symbolic break from tradition during this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebration, as three parallel prayer gatherings were held across the city, highlighting deepening divisions within the state’s traditional and political leadership.
For decades, Eid prayers in Kano have served as a unifying event, drawing leaders and residents to a single congregation. However, this year’s fragmented observance underscored lingering tensions tied to the emirship dispute and shifting political loyalties.
At the historic Kofar Mata Eid Ground, Muhammadu Sanusi II led one of the main prayers, attended by top government officials including Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. His message focused on unity, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence.
At the same time, a separate congregation took place at the Nasarawa Palace, where Aminu Ado Bayero’s camp gathered for prayers led by Sheikh Kamaluddeen Albasa, who also emphasised peace and stability.
In a third gathering, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso held Eid prayers at his residence mosque along Miller Road, joined by loyalists and political associates. His camp described the event as reflective, centred on gratitude and communal harmony.
Observers say the unusual development is rooted in the protracted emirship crisis that began in 2020 with Sanusi’s removal and Bayero’s installation, a situation further complicated by Sanusi’s reinstatement in 2024, creating parallel claims to traditional authority.
Recent political realignments in the state have also added another layer to the division, reshaping alliances and influencing public gatherings.
The emergence of multiple Eid prayer grounds—once a rare occurrence in Kano—signals a growing fragmentation of both traditional institutions and political cohesion in the state.
Analysts warn that the breakdown of such long-standing communal traditions could have broader implications for unity in one of northern Nigeria’s most influential cultural centres.