Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the annual Tijjaniyya Dhikr gathering in Kano, said the Federal Government recognised the event’s significance and conveyed the President’s goodwill to participants.
Addressing thousands of worshippers, Yusuf said he had spoken with President Tinubu the day before the gathering to inform him of the event.
According to the governor, the President expressed happiness over the occasion, extended his greetings to attendees and indicated his desire to attend the programme in person in the future.
The governor described the weekly and annual dhikr gatherings of the Tijjaniyya sect as an enduring tradition that had contributed to the peace and harmony enjoyed in Kano State.
He commended the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, for his commitment to promoting Islamic teachings since returning to the throne, while also praising the Tijjaniyya Shura Council for sustaining the long-standing religious tradition.
Yusuf said his administration had taken note of the observations and recommendations made by Islamic scholars at the gathering, particularly those raised by Sheikh Bashir Dahiru Bauchi, assuring participants that the government was already engaging clerics on ways to strengthen and expand religious and community development initiatives.
He disclosed that the state government had compiled data on Tijjaniyya members across Kano’s 44 local government areas and maintained records of members in about 6,000 wards across Nigeria to support them in different aspects of their lives.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to good governance, the governor said he and his team had sworn on the Holy Qur’an to serve the people faithfully and would remain accountable before God for their stewardship.
He also called for prayers as the country approaches another election season, urging political actors and residents to ensure peaceful and credible elections.
“We remain your servants, and with your prayers, we will continue striving to deliver on our mandate,” Yusuf said.
In his remarks, Emir Sanusi praised the continuity of the annual Tijjaniyya Dhikr, describing it as a legacy established by past Kano emirs, including the late Emir Ado Bayero, on the advice of the late Sheikh Nasiru Kabara.
The Emir thanked Governor Yusuf for his service to the state and recalled that he publicly supported his candidacy in the 2023 governorship election, noting that many clerics backed him out of conviction rather than expectation of personal rewards.
“I have never approached you to ask for any favour, contract or appointment for anyone’s son, and neither have these clerics sought such benefits from you,” the Emir said. “We only ask that you love us as much as we love you.”
Sanusi commended the governor’s developmental efforts across rural and urban communities, saying he would not have hesitated to criticise him if he were not performing.
He also urged traditional rulers, politicians and citizens to work together to restore the region’s lost glory, stressing that societal transformation begins with self-reform and collective responsibility.
The Emir prayed for continued peace, unity and development in Kano and thanked clerics and worshippers who travelled from across the country to attend the annual gathering.