By Rabiu Sanusi
Concerned followers of the Qadiriyya Movement in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State have called on the Kano State Government to intervene over alleged religious exclusion, denial of worship rights, and what they described as inequitable allocation of Hajj seats in the area.
In a letter addressed to the Executive Governor of Kano State, the group sought urgent intervention to safeguard their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and worship.
The letter, signed by Aminu Yusuf Maitama and Isah Dahiru on behalf of concerned members of the movement, alleged that followers of the Qadiriyya sect in Bagwai were prevented from conducting Eid prayers in their own mosque.
According to the group, the Chairman of Bagwai Local Government was said to have directed them not to observe Eid prayers independently as a sect, but instead to join mosques associated with either the Tijjaniyya or Wahabiyya groups.
They described the development as a violation of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, citing Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.
The group maintained that freedom of worship should not be subjected to coercion, discrimination, or sectarian preference, stressing that all religious groups are entitled to equal treatment under the law.
They also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the allocation of Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage exercise.
According to the petition, the Kano State Government had reportedly adopted an inclusive policy recognizing the three major Islamic sects, Qadiriyya, Tijjaniyya, and Wahabiyya in the distribution of Hajj seats across the 44 local government areas of the state.
However, they alleged that in Bagwai Local Government Area, the seat allocated to the Qadiriyya Movement was reassigned to a member of another sect, a situation they said has deepened feelings of exclusion and unfair representation.
The concerned followers appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene in the matter in the interest of justice, fairness, peace, and constitutional order.
They further urged the governor to direct relevant authorities in Bagwai to respect their constitutional rights by allowing them to freely and peacefully conduct Eid prayers and other religious activities in line with their beliefs.
The group also called for fairness, inclusiveness, and equitable representation of the Qadiriyya Movement in Hajj allocations and other religious matters within the local government area.
They expressed confidence in the governor’s commitment to justice, equity, and the protection of the rights of all citizens of Kano State.
