Thousands of people from within and outside Kano State will today converge on the Palace of the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar ll, for the turbaning of Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso as Sarkin Yakin Karaye.
Kwankwaso, a well-known grassroots politician, is the present Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in Kano State.
The choice of the honourable commissioner for the title of Sarkin Yaki did not come as a surprise to the people considering his contributions to the upliftment of his people and the state.
Historically, the title of Sarkin Yaki in the northern traditional institution is conferred on a person that always works for the wellbeing of his people; someone who brings development to his people; one who places the needs of his people above his personal needs.
Kwankwaso is a person that cares about his people and works for their progress in any situation he finds himself. He always utilizes opportunities no matter how little they are for the benefit of his people.
He has served his people in different capacities. For instance, when he was the chairman of Madobi Local Government Council, the people witnessed a lot of development in their communities.
Similarly, when he was a commissioner in the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau-led administration, many communities across the 44 local government areas of Kano State enjoyed the dividends of democracy.
A grassroots politician per excellence, this appointment as Sarkin Yakin Karaye will provide him with an additional opportunity to serve his people more under the traditional institution.
Speaking to Daily Trust on his turbaning as Sarkin Yakin Karaye, Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso, thanked Allah Almighty for choosing him for the job.
“Alhamdulillah, I thank the emir for selecting me out of millions of people for this title. I was selected for the job not because I am perfect or because I am better than others. No, it is because Allah has destined it to be. The appointment is a challenge for me. I have to work more for my people.
“Their expectations will now be high; their hopes have risen. So, I must work hard and do my best to serve them well in my capacity as Sarkin Yakin Karaye.
“Although, serving people is not something new to me, but I am sure the appointment is a serious challenge for me. I am into politics for the purpose of serving my people, so, this appointment will only ginger me to do more for my people.
“I thank the emir for the appointment and I want to assure him that I will never let him down. He will never regret appointing me as Sarkin Yakin Karaye. I will do everything within my power to bring more development to the people of Karaye Emirate and Kano State as a whole.
“I thank all those who, in one way or the other, contributed their quota to making this event successful. Your contributions will never go in vain. I will surely prove to you that the emir has made a right choice,” he stated.
Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf Karaye, a resident of Karaye town, described the choice of Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso as Sarkin Yakin Karaye as a well-deserved appointment.
Karaye explained that the newly appointed Sarkin Yaki is a well-known person, a fighter, struggler and patriotic son of Karaye Emirate. “I have no doubt that this man will build on the good work he has been doing for the people of this great emirate.
“Kwankwaso has served the people of the emirate in different capacities in the past, therefore, his appointment as Sarkin Yaki will only give him another opportunity to bring more goodies to his people. I have no doubt that Kwankwaso will not disappoint the emir and the people of Karaye Emirate,” he said.
Ibrahim Bello, a resident of Kwankwaso town, appealed to the people of Karaye Emirate to support the new Sarkin Yakin Karaye, to enable him to contribute his quota for the development of the emirate.
Bello said: “No matter how determined the newly appointed Sarkin Yaki is to serve the emirate, he can never make it without the support of his people. I am, therefore, calling on the people of Karaye Emirate to give him all the support he needs.
“I am confident that he will use his connections and influence to bring more development to our emirate. The emirate and the good people of Karaye Emirate will never regret his appointment as Sarkin Yaki.
“We are witnesses to the contributions he made for the creation of Karaye Emirate. Kwankwaso stood by Governor Ganduje for the creation of the emirate when many others kicked against the idea.
“The new Sarkin Yakin Karaye is among the few people that embarked on rigorous sensitization campaign on the importance of the creation of additional emirates in the state until the four emirates were created. So, he that made such huge contributions will surely contribute even more for the development of Karaye Emirate.”
Malam Musa Dan Zaria, an associate of the new Sarkin Yakin Karaye, said the title fits his master more than any other person, noting that Kwankwaso deserves more than a title from the traditional institution, considering his contributions to the creation of the four additional emirates in the state.
Dan Zaria maintained that the appointment of Kwankwaso as Sarkin Yaki is a reward for his love for his people, noting that he always gives his best in whatever he engaged in and focuses on the greater public good over his personal gains.
“The new Sarkin Yaki is the kind of person Karaye Emirate needs to serve the downtrodden. So, for me, the emir has made the right choice. I will say that his love and concern for the less privileged earned him this very important title. But Allah knows best why he chose Kwankwaso for the important assignment.
“Kwankwaso has gotten an opportunity to serve his people within the circle of politics and is now given another opportunity to serve them under a different platform. So, all he needs is the support of his people and the emirate to discharge his assigned responsibilities.
“I worked with the new Sarkin Yaki for several years, so I know what he can do and what he cannot. As far as this assignment is concerned, I have no doubt the man will deliver it and will never disappoint the emir, the emirate and Kano State in general.
“The people of Karaye should be rest assured that the emirate will witness tremendous achievements with people like Kwankwaso as district head,” he concluded.
Alhaji Musa Iliyasu Kwankwaso served as Madobi Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Commissioner for Rural and Community Development and later Ministry of Environment under Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration.
The incumbent governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, re-appointed him Commissioner for Rural and Community Development in 2019, a position he holds till date and this is due to his contributions to the electoral fortunes of the APC in the 2019 general elections.
