There is growing tension in the historic town of Kaura Namoda, the headquarters of the Kaura Namoda Emirate of Zamfara State, following the stripping of an in-law of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, of the traditional title of Danmasani of the emirate.
The Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad Asha, had announced the withdrawal of the title from its current holder, Alhaji Sahabi Liman, over undisclosed reasons.
Already, the dominant Islamic sects in the area, the Kadirriya and the Tijjaniya, have kicked against the decision of the Kaura Namoda emirate.
Responding to the emir’s action in an interview, the embattled traditional title holder, Liman, appealed to the people to be calm, saying that there was no cause for alarm as the “notice for my removal has no lawful or moral basis to make it effective”.
He said his title of the Danmasani was an honour confirmed on him by the late Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Ahmad Asha, who was the father of the incumbent emir.
Liman explained that even the late emir was instructed by the late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, on the advice of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, “to honour me with the title, following my matrimonial engagement with the daughter of the late emir of Kano, late Alhaji Ado Bayero.”
He further explained that based on the circumstances that warranted his conferment as Danmasani, there was no authority having any legal power to relieve him of the title, adding that legally, “I will continue to be the holder of the title, and be addressed as Danmasanin Kaura until I die.”
Liman stressed that the title was not meant for the physical administration of any geographical demarcation, and that it was not attracting any salary or perks of office.
“It is just an appointment to lead, coordinate and unite the various leaders of Islamic sects to ensure sanity and peace among the Muslim ummah,” he said.
According to him, it was surprising to hear that the current Emir, Alhaji Muhammed Ahmad Asha, was attempting to generate unnecessary conflict in his emirate, though, “he is aware that since my appointment as Danmasanin Kaura, I have been donating my wealth to support the survival of the emirate.”
Danmasani disclosed that the emir’s action might not be unconnected with his plan to invest his personal resources “to build a modern mosque, much bigger and magnificent than the one in his palace, and this development might have led to an unhealthy envy.”
“I am committed to constructing the mosque and nobody can stop me from doing what is expected of me as the leader of the Ulamas in the Emirate of Kaura Local Government Area,” he added.