The acclaimed traditional durbar procession staged during the biennial sallah celebrations in Kano will not hold this year due to the uncertain health condition of the Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.
Kano State government announced yesterday that the revered monarch was indisposed and thus could not withstand the rigour of the horse procession that normally covers four days of homage and visits to different parts of the metropolis, on horse-back.
Addressing a press conference at the Government House, the state commissioner of information, Dr Umar Faruk Jibril said that the age-old tradition had to be called off to enable the recuperating monarch, convalesce properly.
The 81-year-old monarch, according to findings by LEADERSHIP, has been suffering from an ailment associated with old age over the past years. A source disclosed that the emir was rushed to an Indian hospital last week.
The recuperating Emir Bayero, has, however, managed to attend the ritual of eid-el fitr prayer observed yesterday in the state.
Our correspondent observed that at a point, midway into the prayer, the emir could not stand up from his sitting posture and had to seek the assistance of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who lifted him up.
Similarly, for the first time in the history of his 48-year rule, the monarch used horse-driven carriage instead of horseback ride, to get back home from the Eid ground.
The durbar procession usually held at the premises of Kofar Kwaru of the emir’s palace was not held even as the traditional sallah message delivered by the emir before he enters the palace was not delivered.
LEADERSHIP recalled that during the last sallah festivities, the routes followed by the emir during the procession were cut down to shorten the time taken to cover the areas.
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