There is a brewing crisis in the Hausa community of Lagos State over the position of Sarkin Hausawa for the state.
Some members of the Arewa Council of Chiefs had kicked against the installation of Alhaji Ali Kabir Garba as Sarkin Hausa, describing it as illegal as the Arewa community has an existing Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos, HRH Alhaji Aminu Idris Yaro.
Sulaiman Bala Abdullahi, who claims to be the Secretary General, Lagos State Arewa Council of Chiefs, accused the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure, Arch. Ahmed Kabir, as being behind the installation.
The commissioner has, however, absolved himself of any blame and dismissed the claim of the council.
Eko Trust reports that the installation of Alhaji Garba followed the death of Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Sanni Kabir Garba, last Thursday.
But Abdullahi, in a statement made available to our correspondent, claimed that the installation of Alhaji Garba was illegal.
He said, “Historically, the father of Ali Kabir, Alhaji Kabiru Garba, was installed as Sarkin Hausawa of Ebute-Meta by Late HRH Alhaji Yaro Dogara (the then Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos) in 1988 and his elder brother, late Sani Kabir, who died recently, was installed by Oloto of Oto, HRH Oba Adesanya, in 2008 also as Sarkin Hausawa of Ebute Meta.
The Commissioner of Waterfront has no any jurisdiction, therefore, to install someone as Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos while the Hausa community already has an existing Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos in person of Alhaji Aminu Idris Yaro.”
He called the attention of the state government to what he called the “illegal installation” which he noted could breed crisis in the Hausa community.
Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, he stated that historically, the council where he is the scribe is the custodian of the history of Hausa community, which dates back to over 100 years.
He said the council would take a legal action if the government went ahead with the installation, adding, “We have all our documents and we are ready to challenge this in court.”
But speaking with Eko Trust, the Commissioner said he was not behind the installation but only gave his blessings and challenged the other claimant to “go and fight the deceased Sarkin Hausawa.”
He said, “I stand for issues of development, issues that bring peace and progress to the community and not issues of retrogression.”
Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Danbatta, who said he is the authentic Secretary of Arewa Council of Chiefs, described the other group as impostor, insisting there was no issue whatsoever with the installation.
He explained that the decision to install Alhaji Garba as the new Sarkin Hausawa came from the family of the deceased Sarki and elders in the Hausa community, stressing that the decision has been endorsed by the state government.
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