By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
The People of Bichi, one of the five emirates abolished by the new law promulgated by the Kano State House of Assembly, have asked the State Government to reverse the law immediately.
The people, under the auspices of Inuwar Jama’ar Masarautar Bichi (Bichi Emirate Development Association), said they would not accept any arrangement other than the reversal of the law to restore their Emirate.
Speaking at a press conference at the residence of the Makaman Bichi, Umar Tofa, in Kano on Tuesday, the Secretary of the association, Engr. Bello Gambo Bichi, said the formation of the five emirates by the former administration of Abdullahi Ganduje had brought even development to their respective areas.
According to him, the since inception, the Bichi Emirate has witnessed development in the areas of healthcare, education, economy, agriculture and roads infrastructure.
“Since the establishment of Bichi Emirate, over 3,000 youths have been employed. We also have witnessed even development in different areas.
“We have seen development projects springing up in the emirate in the area of health, education, economy and roads infrastructure.
“That is why we have vehemently rejected this law and will continue to fight it,” the secretary said.
He also listed some cultural developments that the Emirate had recorded such as moon sighting and Sallah durbar.
“Prior to the establishment of Bichi emirate, traditional title holders, Imams and Ulamas had to travel to Kano to give information on moon sighting.
“Also during Sallah, we had to transport our horses to Kano for Sallah durbar. But after the establishment of the Emirate, everything had become closer to us. So, dissolving the emirate is something unacceptable to us,” Gambo said.
He warned that the people of Bichi Emirate would resist any move by the state government to impose second-class emir or even district head in their area.
He said that the entire people in the 19 local government areas under Bichi emirate had vehemently rejected the new law and would not obey it.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the association, Aminu Abdulrahman Bichi, urged the relevant authorities to intervene and compel the Kano State House of Assembly to reverse the new law.
Abdulrahman described the scrapping of the five Emirates as unwise and selfish, and called on the state government to immediately reverse the law effecting it.