Meningitis: Zamfara state governor replies Emir of Kano

On April 5th, Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II took a swipe at the Zamfara state governor, Abdulaziz Yari, over his recent
controversial statement that the current meningitis epidemic is as a result of the prevalence of immorality in the country. The
Emir of Kano in a post shared on his IG page, said Yari’s statement had no basis in Islam. In recent times, the monarch has
been canvassing for a change in the thought process of Muslims in Nigeria, particularly towards embracing science and
modern day techniques.

In a statement released by his media aide, Yari kicked against the monarch new found
stance against the practice of Islam in Nigeria. He says the Emir’s reaction to his comment doesn’t change the fact that everything must be linked to good whether
fair or foul. Read his statement below For those who consider the emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II to be anything but a first class intellectual, a consummate banker
and a bona fide member of Nigeria’s royalty, the last couple of weeks were a dizzying spectacle of mixed messages on
integrity, royalty and wisdom.

Within a perimeter of weeks, HRH
Muhammadu Sanusi II, whose royal tentacles and social networks traverse the
length and breadth of this country, lambasted the nation’s economic framework, the northern elite, sub-national
leadership especially the governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar and the traditional institution of marriage.

All frontiers that we hold so dear
With due respect to our highly revered traditional institutions and royal fathers, as a blue-blooded family member himself, Hon Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar holds the emir in very high esteem. He believes that the emir
as a brother and co-occupant of elite positions in Nigeria, he could advice governors and those in positions of authority in several chains of communication that are richly available to him. But he preferred the public platform,
for reasons best known to him.

Governor Yari firmly believes that a country that goes to its pastors and Imams who recommend prayer and fasting as the
solution to every social misfortune, from matrimonial disagreements, to social and
economic complications needs to be wary of the wrath of God in the event of an epidemic of unquantifiable proportion such
as Type C meningitis. And as a country that succumbs to the supremacy of Allah, we
must continue to link Him with all things, fair or foul.

Those who want to equate science with God, like HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II can denounce Yari’s statement from the rooftops but that will not change Governor
Yari’s beliefs in the omniscience,
omnipresence and omnipotence of Allah.

By a certain bizarre coincidence too, like a prophesy foretold, Sheikh Mahmood Jaafar
had before he was assassinated named Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as one of those whose hypocrisy would bring an epidemic
of monumental proportions to this country.

The tapes are very much in circulation long after Sheikh Jaafar death, He had argued in that sermon that “Sanusi Lamido is one of the enemies of Islam who
would assume all traits of a good Muslim but deep inside them is a hatred of Islam, and the people far beyond human imagination.” Could this be a prophecy
foretold? However, the emir should be aware that
Allah who gives power to whoever He wills at His own time, also takes it away at the
most inauspicious time. As elected officials, we are obliged to serve people just as we serve God. Within this precinct Governor
Yari has done his best. As representatives of the best of our traditions, our Emirs, chiefs, kings and queens are also obliged to
lead by example, show empathy, adjudicate with compassion, display wisdom and embrace the fear of God, in all they do. In
this HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II is
struggling.

Recently, our erudite emir has been mired in several controversies, which rather than
enhance his profile and the integrity of royalty, has put him very much on the spot.
And the emir has put up a spirited defence of all the allegations against him. But he was not transparent enough, as he always
accused officials, especially governors, to tell the public what he found in the Kano Emirate palace coffers when he ascended
the exalted throne. This is the least of his people’s expectations of him. It was the first that our finest royalty would offer.

Sacrifice is another attribute known to our royal fathers.