The APC Patriotic Volunteers, a political group loyal to the ruling All Progressives Congress, has reacted strongly to reports of the withdrawal of the traditional title of Wazirin Gaya from a prominent APC chieftain, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, describing the move as politically motivated and legally flawed.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ibrahim Dan Azumi Gwarzo, the group expressed shock over the recent announcement by the Emir of Gaya, which claimed that Alhaji Usman Alhaji had been stripped of his title. They clarified that Usman Alhaji was never reinstated as Wazirin Gaya after the dissolution of the first-class emirates in Kano State, following a legislative move by the State House of Assembly.
The group emphasized that the former Secretary to the Kano State Government lost his title after the Kano State House of Assembly passed a law abolishing the existing first-class emirates, including Gaya, Rano, Karaye, and Bichi. This action effectively nullified all traditional appointments tied to those emirates, including that of Usman Alhaji.
Following the legislative changes, the state government approved the creation of second-class emirates, and all former titleholders, including Alhaji Usman Alhaji and over 100 others, were left without official palace duties or recognition. According to the APC Patriotic Volunteers, this legal backdrop makes the recent withdrawal of his title by the Emir of Gaya not only misleading but also suspicious.
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The group further revealed that the Emir of Gaya had previously sought Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s approval to reinstate several former titleholders, including Usman Alhaji. However, some names were rejected by the governor, and Usman Alhaji’s was among them a decision they described as having clear political undertones.
The group accused the Kano government of playing politics with traditional institutions, questioning why the Emir would single out Usman Alhaji for public embarrassment when he was never formally reinstated to begin with. They also argued that traditional titles, especially those as prestigious as the Wazirin Gaya, cannot be revoked arbitrarily without due process, such as issuing a warning, filing formal charges, and granting the accused a right to defend himself, as required by emirate laws.
“This is not just a political witch-hunt, but a blatant abuse of traditional authority and due process,” the statement read. “Alhaji Usman Alhaji was never officially reinstated, so how can a title he does not currently hold be withdrawn?”
The controversy has deepened tensions between the APC and the ruling NNPP-led Kano government, further fueling concerns that traditional titles are becoming tools in the ongoing political rivalry ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC Patriotic Volunteers have called on the Emir of Gaya and the Kano State Government to clarify their positions and stop using traditional institutions as pawns in political battles that could destabilize the state.