Kano moslem group alleges marginalisation
From Adamu Abuh, Kano
THE leadership of the Qadiriyya Islamic Movement yesterday alleged that the Kano State government has been making subterranean moves to sabotage the activities of the body in the state.
The position of the group's leadership has also raised fears of another conflict between followers of the movement, believed to be the largest in Kano, and the state government.
Leader of the group, Sheik Karibulah Nasiru Kabara, told reporters at his Kano residence that his followers would resist any attempt to undermine their activities in the state.
The cleric alleged that the government has put in place measures aimed at subverting the group's activities.
He cited the refusal of the state-owned electronic media organisations to air the movement's activities, saying it was calculated at reducing the influence of the group in the state.
He pointed accusing fingers at a commissioner, who is of the rival Izalla sect, as the mastermind of the alleged government plot.
However, he did not disclose the commissioner's identity.
Recently, the cleric led hundreds of his followers to the State House of Assembly to protest that his group has not been fairly treated by the Governor Ibrahim Shekarau administration.
Among the grievances expressed then were that his movement was not fairly represented in the state executive council, the Sharia and Hisbah commissions and the state pilgrims board.
Karibulah, who claimed that his group enjoys the largest followership in the state, accused the governor of ensuring the marginalisation of the movement.
He added: "When the governor won the election, I remembered that he came to my place to thank us for our support and then promised to be fair and just to all. Today, he is not doing exactly what he said."
"This is a man who said he would rule in line with the tenets of Sharia but today, he has found it difficult to fulfil that promise."
He denied allegations that the activities of the movement was being sponsored by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, adding that the movement is apolitical and purely Islamic.
The cleric hailed the restoration of the power of the Emir of Kano to appoint Imams and construct mosques in the state, saying it is a laudable development.
The movement had pushed for the restoration of the power, which was transferred to the newly created Sharia commission through a law at the inception of the Shekarau administration.
