Opinion
Edo 2024 Guber Petitions: Let the legal fireworks begin (2)
By Ehichioya Ezomon
The All Progressives Congress (APC) certainly has its work cut out, as the hearing proper begins today, January 13, 2025, into the petitions filed by seven political parties against the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner of the governorship election in Edo State on September 21, 2024.
While six of the parties question the credibility of the poll, the focus is on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo, came second with 247,274 votes to Okpebholo’s score of 291,667 votes – giving a margin of lead of 44,393 votes.
The PDP claims that those figures were manipulated by the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police, to favour Okpebholo and disfavour Ighodalo, who the PDP says won the election in a landslide.
The PDP avers that – save cheating via disfranchisement of voters; suppression of votes; over-voting; vote-buying; and connivance of the APC, INEC and the Police to “gift” victory to Okpebholo – Ighodalo won the poll, and should be declared as Governor of Edo State.
Ighodalo also asserts on a Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ on September 12, 2024, that: “There was a collusion between the INEC and the police to suppress the will of the people of Edo State. People of Edo State purposely voted for us (PDP). We won the election clearly.
“But we have serious collusion by INEC and the APC working towards votes not counting… But this time around, we will go through the judicial process and the vote will count. We are quite clear that with the evidence we have, we will show clearly that we won the election. And the mandate of the people will be upheld.”
In the United States, the burden of proof most generally places obligation on a party to prove its allegations at trial. In a civil case, as per Wikipedia, “the plaintiff sets forth its allegations in a complaint, petition or other pleading. The defendant is then required to file a responsive pleading denying some or all of the allegations and setting forth any affirmative facts in defence. Each party has the burden of proof of its allegations.”
Similarly in civil cases in Nigeria, the burden of proof is generally cast on the party “who asserts the affirmation of a particular issue.” In other words, “the burden rests on the party, whether plaintiff or defendant, who substantially asserts the affirmative of an issue,” the Supreme Court ruled in Senator Smart Adeyemi (Appellant) and the APC, INEC and Ahmed Usman Ododo (Respondents).
As reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report (NMLR) (An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.), Adeyemi, a defeated contestant in the April 14, 2023, APC primary in Kogi State, contended that failure to conduct the primary in substantial compliance with the law, the burden was on the APC to prove how Ododo won the primary.
But in the judgment by a five-member panel of Justices, delivered by Emmanuel Akomaye Agim (JSC) on Monday, October, 23, 2023, the Apex Court held that, “the party that has the primary legal burden to prove the existence or non-existence of any facts, is the one who desires a court to give judgment as to any legal right or liability dependent on the existence or non-existence of facts which he asserts.”
The Court held further that Section 133(1) of the Evidence Act specifically provides that whether the Appellant is making an affirmative assertion i.e., the existence of a fact or a negative assertion i.e., the non-existence of a fact, “the burden of first proving either of the two lies on the party against whom the whole judgment would be given if no evidence is led on either side.” (Egharevba v Osagie (2009) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1173) at 299)
The Court referred to its decision in Shitta-Bey v A-G Federation (1978) 7 SCNJ 264 Pg. 287, that apart from the presumption of regularity, “there is the presumption that where there is no evidence to the contrary, things are presumed to have been rightly and properly done.”
“The Court also held that where allegations of crime are made in an election matter, the standard of proof is even high, as election matters are not exempt from the law that says that an allegation of crime in any proceedings must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
“On the whole, the Court held that in the instant case, the Appellant (Adeyemi) made certain assertions regarding the conduct of the 1st Respondent’s (APC) primary election, and by the provisions of the law, he ought to adduce evidence to support these assertions. However, he claimed that since there was no primary election, he did not have any result to tender, when he could have tendered other affidavit evidence from his agents in the wards all over Kogi State to substantiate his claim.
“The Court found that, on the other hand, the Respondents produced evidence which proved the fact that the primary election was indeed, conducted, with the 2nd Respondent (INEC) tendering before the trial court the primary election results and reports on the conduct of the primary election in the various local governments duly signed by its electoral officers.”
Also, in a piece, “Analysis of the Burden of Proof on Defendants in Criminal Cases: The Dust not Settled,” published on July 21, 2017, Jide Bodede, Managing Partner at Lawfields Solicitors & Advocates, cited Muhammad JSC, in Olonade v Sowemimo (2014) LPELR-22914(SC), 27, as explaining the meaning of the standard of proof in civil cases, the balance of probabilities, thus:
“My Lords, in a civil matter such as this, the court decides the case on the balance of probabilities or preponderance of evidence. The trial court does this by first deciding which evidence it accepts from each of the parties, putting the accepted evidence adduced by the plaintiff on one side of the imaginary scale and that of the defendant on the other side of the scale and weighing them together.
“The court then decides which side’s evidence is heavier, not by the number of witnesses called by either party or on the basis of the one being oral and the other being documentary, but by the quality or probative value of the evidence be it oral and/or documentary.”
From the foregoing, it’s clear that the burden of proof in the Edo governorship petitions is no less imperative on APC/Okpebholo than it’s on PDP/Ighodalo; both sides are required to prove their counter-petitions. But while PDP/Ighodalo have the burden to “prove beyond reasonable doubt,” APC/Okpebholo have the evidential burden to prove “the probability of the defence or to create a reasonable doubt in the case of the prosecution.”
Thus, APC/Okpebholo should have the facts and evidence to counter PDP/Ighodalo’s claim that unlike the figures the INEC declared for the parties on September 22, they won the votes in each of the polling units, wards and councils in contention, and that their total votes are authentic, and a true reflection of the votes cast on September 21.
Meanwhile, in their defence, APC/Okpebholo, apparently picking the “low-hanging fruit” first, have urged the tribunal to dismiss the PDP/Ighodalo petition on grounds of “incompetence, and not filed in accordance with the extant law.” The APC counsel, Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), canvassed this position on December 18 at the close of pre-hearings into the petitions.
Orbih, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while noting that further grounds for seeking the dismissal of the petition are contained in the motion paper dated November 30, and supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit, also prayed for expunging of some paragraphs of the petition, and urged the tribunal to rule on the motion before it commenced hearing into the petition, even as he asked the tribunal to hands-off the petition “for lack of jurisdiction.”
But Ken Mozia (SAN), a lead counsel for Ighodalo, who’d also moved four different motions, for the tribunal to expunge various paragraphs in the replies of INEC, APC and Okpebholo to PDP’s petition, urged the tribunal to discountenance the APC submission, as the PDP had filed a reply and counter-affidavit to challenge APC’s motion, which he sought its dismissal “for lack of merit.”
APC/Okpebholo’s cause may be helped by the INEC, which’s expected to defend its declaration of Okpebholo as Governor, and debunk the PDP/Ighodalo allegation that the APC and the Police pressured top officials of the commission to manipulate the collated figures in favour of Okpebholo.
Governor Okpebholo’s denied PDP/Ighodalo’s charge of rigging his way to the Osadebey Avenue Government House in Benin City, claiming the PDP’s caught up in the web of writing and announcing “fake results” sourced from an equally “fake IReV” portal, which mimicked the official IReV portal, and yet “crying that somebody rigged the election.”
At a reception in his honour by the Esan people of Edo Central at Irrua, headquarters of Esan Central local government area on November 30, Okpebholo stated: “The people, who wrote results and were announcing fake results on the internet, are the same people crying today that somebody rigged the election.
“It is sad to say that the criminals are crying today that they have lost, and will continue to lose. They are spending money day and night and wasting their money, and they will wait in vain. Edo people have spoken. They have chosen the path of development, peace, and unity. This is what Edo people have chosen, and that is how it will remain.”
Recall, also, the APC’s allegation that then-outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki cut short his terminal leave overseas in October 2024, and returned with a “Sophisticated Infrared-Driven Technology, with preloaded results, to manipulate the INEC database.”
As posted by “Akpakomiza Media Strikers” – one of pro-Okpebholo political groups, “credible sources have raised concerns about the true intent behind Obaseki’s recent trip to Italy, shortly after the Edo State gubernatorial election.”
“Obaseki is said to have access to a specialised software capable of interfering with the INEC portal. It is claimed that this infrared-driven software has been pre-configured to alter the election data once Obaseki gains access to the relevant systems,” the group added.
What about APC’s claim on October 10 – during the political parties’ inspection of INEC’s materials used for the September 21 poll – that the commission conveyed the materials with Edo State government’s vehicles from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the INEC office in Benin City, thus raising suspicion of possible tampering with the evidence by the PDP/Ighodalo team?
The inspection of the poll materials was postponed from October 9 to 10, to 11 and then indefinitely due either to disruption by armed thugs, APC-PDP couldn’t agree to the modalities for the inspection, or the APC refused to proceed until its petition – regarding use of government’s vehicles to convey the BVAS machines and other materials – was attended to by the INEC, the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Counsel to APC/Okpebholo, Victor Ohionsumua, told journalists on October 10 that the Edo APC chairman, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, had observed that the electoral materials were brought into the INEC complex in Edo government’s vehicles, and “on that basis, we raised an objection that the party would only return for the inspection once the petition was addressed.”
“The INEC legal officer wanted to move forward with the inspection without directives from the REC (Resident Electoral Commissioner). We insisted on hearing from the REC, and that our petition must be addressed before proceeding. During this, the situation became chaotic, and we began hearing gunshots outside the complex. The INEC Director of Operations then decided to adjourn the inspection indefinitely, citing security concerns.”
Why would the INEC convey very sensitive electoral materials – billed for inspection by avowed rival parties – with vehicles of the state government that’s led by the PDP and Governor Obaseki, who’d “anointed” Ighodalo to succeed him in November 2024?
If true to their conviction, APC/Okpebholo can connect the “figures” bandy by PDP/Ighodalo to the alleged “pre-configured infrared-driven software capable of interfering with election data,” and the probable altering of the BVAS machines and other voting materials reportedly conveyed in Edo government’s vehicles to the INEC office in Benin City.
Nonetheless, APC/Okpebholo should worry that PDP/Ighodalo’s allegations could alter the status quo, in light of Ighodalo’s claim that, “we are quite clear that with the evidence we have, we will show clearly that we won the election, and the mandate of the people will be upheld.”
APC/Okpebholo need to rebutt the PDP/Ighodalo allegations, seriatim. Did they manipulate the process to disenfranchise voters, suppress votes, over-vote and buy votes? And did they connivance with the INEC and the Police to reduce Ighodalo’s votes and inflate Okpebholo’s scores?
Surely, the three-man tribunal of Justices Wilfred Kpochi A.B. Yusuf and A.A. Adewole will, from today, January 13, have their hands full in PDP/Ighodalo’s avowal to “retrieve our stolen mandate,” which APC/Okpebholo dismiss they didn’t have in the first place!
The panel, chaired by Justice Kpochi, has barely four months remaining of the six months (180 days) mandated by the electoral law to consider the petitions and return a verdict that should reflect the will of Edo people, as exercised through the ballot on September 21, 2024. Let the legal fireworks begin!
Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. Can be reached on X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp @EhichioyaEzomon. Tel: 08033078357
By Hamza Lamisi
No doubt that one of the expected big game Changers of the 10th National Assembly, particularly the Senate, is the emergence of a vocal voice who ran one of the country’s most persecuted election campaigns in Nigeria’s history. From the feminine gender in a male dominated political ecosystem to being transracial in a highly conservative District; a Christian in Muslim-saturated bargain table of stakeholders, from being single to inter-tribally married in a natively and culturally republic Ebira Land. Not only to contest in a struggling opposition party but to face the most ruthless Chief Security Officer of her State, from her District.
The odds were obviously too many but Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan upturned the guess – defeating the threatening ruling party and emerging the first female Senator Kogi State ever produced. She defined the turning point of Kogi Central’s representation in Nigeria’s bicameral Parliament. Unlike her colleagues from Kogi State who rode on the backing of the number one citizen of the State, Senator Natasha’s road to the red Chambers was never paved, it was a tough and rough journey of determination, persistence, unwavering dedication and commitment to a dream held in trust for the people.
She walked through the storms and she is shaped by the lessons – to remain bold, assertive, unbroken, unbeaten and unbowed by any circumstance, because only by struggle and perseverance freedom comes. Not unaware of the systemic dialogue, lobby and collaboration but Senator Natasha would not do so at the expense or in exchange of the People’s trust and mandate for which she swore oath to protect.
Stepping into the Senate as a survivor of election and litigation battles, and looking back to the unwavering support and uncommon trust of Kogi people and Nigerians by extension, notwithstanding already some months behind her fellow law makers, Senator Natasha was prepared to have the end justify the means. Barely 16 months from the very day of her swearing-in till date, Senator Natasha’s contributions and impact in the 10th Senate have left many wonder if she was a first time Senator or one elected from the minority opposition. Most popular and best performing member of the current National Assembly.
Just within one year in office, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan lit 30 kilometers of road networks across Kogi Central with over 2,000 solar powered streetlights. Over 1,300 women and youth were trained and empowered by the law maker. Senator Natasha has supported the tuition fee of over 353 vulnerable indigenous students at tertiary institutions nationwide. She has faciliated federal employment opportunities for various graduates and facilitate capacity building trainings and empowerment for many others.
She brought a reliable supply of portable water to Kogi Central communities with 12 water reticulation projects with each being a massive 50,000-liter solar-powered motorized water system, which serves 300 locations and provides, 1,800 fetching taps.
To draw legislation closer to the grassroot, Senator Natasha engaged 100 constituency aides both men and women across the 57 wards in Kogi Central. She has distributed 12 trucks of grains, 10, 000 wrappers for women, 20,000 notebooks, 5,000 school bags and reconstructed and remodeled Abdul Aziz Attah Memorial College Okene (AAAMCO), Okene to smart school.
Within one year in office, Senator Natasha has attracted employments in both federal agencies and private organizations to over 30 graduates from her constituency.
Ihima community has been without police station for the past 7 years, Senator Natasha embarked on total reconstruction of Ihima Police Station which was commissioned by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Senator Natasha distributed 4 trucks of fertilizers totalling 2,400 bags of NPK and Urea fertilizers to Kogi Central farmers. Free Business CAC registration of 2,500 SMEs. She has empowered Kogi Central students from 12 selected tertiary institutions across Nigeria with multipurpose business cart and start up fund.
Commissioned six constituency offices in the five LGAs to make government closer to the people. Senator Natasha has sponsored two motions and two bills including the bill for the establishment of Nigeria Gold Reserve, the bill for the establishment of Ihima Federal Medical Centre, motion to investigate alleged corruption and inefficiency in Ajaokuta Company Ltd and National Iron Ore Mining Company, NIOMCO amongst other.
Senator Natasha has provided 5,000 digital learning devices to both public primary and secondary schools in Kogi Central.
For her magical achievements in office and accelerated development and impact her constituency has witnessed, Senator Natasha has received and even turned down several prestigious awards. She emerged Senator of the year 2024 which is her first year in office as Senator.
Achieving these feats in less than 16 months as a first time Senator and one from the minority party and from Kogi Central, one may wonder what could be the Achilles’ Heels of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in the 10th Senate and why the persecution by supposed colleagues in the Chambers. Is there a question of loyalty to individual rather than institution? Is it her performance record or her dedication to the business of legislation rather than playing the cheap political cards around the leadership of the Senate? Is it her idea of universal development of Nigeria rather than regional? After all, every Senator is of the Federal Republic Nigeria and should think and act so.
We may ask further; is anyone being threatened by her uncommon pace? Is there a question of envy or jealousy among her colleagues? Do they expect Senator Natasha to be one step behind, considering the enormity of the task on her shoulders as Senator from an already underrepresented District in the past? Is there a fear that Senator Natasha may reveal to Nigerians what is due to them from their representatives across boards? We may have more to ask than provide answers.
Meanwhile, Senator Natasha is a more than equal to the task of addressing the challenges that come with standing out in an uncommon manner. She is not one to be taught the difference between ‘diplomacy and cold slavery’ or ‘breach of rules and violation of right’. Nobody can silence her or box her to a corner of the Senate. Beyond her voice and impact over the years as an ordinary citizen, the people have been her greatest strength and she can only get more strengthed by any attempt to silence her.
Nigerians know how rare it is to have a NATASHA among the current crop of leaders and they are obviously making sure she is protected against bully, intimidation or harassment in the Senate. The dream is of the people, by the people and for the people, and so the mandate too.
By Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, LL.D.
I have carefully read and listened to former Nigerian military president, General Ibrahim
Badamosi Babagida’s public remorse and regrets over the atrocious annulment of the June
12,1993 presidential elections. He did this 32 whopping years later. I want to very quickly say
that it takes a man with strong guts and balls and a man who has become repentant, born
again and has seen the face of God to publicly recant his earlier wrongful deeds and offer
public apology to the entire nation. This was no doubt meant to heal gapinng wounds and
balm wounded and bruised hearts.
The polls, the best, most transparent and credible elections, ever held in Nigeria till date,
were meant to end decades of military d The annulment threw Nigeria into turmoil and
widespread unreast, protests, maimings and killings. This forced Babagida to “step aside”;
the enthronenent of the Enest Shonekan’s Interim Government; and the arrest and detention
of Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner who later died in Aso Villa in questionable
and suspicious circumstances. Of course, General Sani Abacha who was his second in
command later sacked Shonekan in a bloodless coup. For years, IBB prevaricated on the
annulment, claiming he did it in the best national interest. But on Thursday the 21st of
February, 2025,Babangida during the presentation of his memoirs, “A journey In Service”,
pointedly regretted in the public: “I regret June 12. I accept full responsibility for the
decisions taken and June 12 happened under my watch. Mistakes, missteps happened
in quick succession. That accident of history is most regrettable. The nation is entitled
to expect my expression of regret “. And wait for it:: he acknowledged for the first time that
Abiola won the elections fair and square, trouncing his major opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
I want to salute Babagida for having the courage and humility to own up like a man; that
everything that happened during the June 12 crisis took place under him as the head of state
and the president who was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. I salute him for acknowledging that his government which actually
organised unarguably the freest, fairest and most credible elections in the electoral history
of Nigeria when it introduced option A4 from electoral books that were hithenlrto unknown
to Nigeria or to the world. But unfortunately, regrettably like he now admits, he again turned
around to annul the same elections in a way that was most bizarre, curious and unnatural.
To me, that he has come out to open up to doing something wrong and egregious to a
bleeding nation should be appreciated. I believe that Nigerians should forgive him because
to err is human and to forgive is divine ( Eph 4:32 ). I personally have now forgiven him
because I was also a victim of the June12 crisis. It threw up all manners of challenges to me
as a person, where in my very youthful age; in my thirties, I found myself marching on the
streets of Lagos every day- from Ikeja bus stop roundabout, to Ikorodu road; up to Tejuosho
market; from there to Ojuelegba, Surulere; to Mushin; to Shomolu and Igando, Alimosho.
Everyday, we were on the streets, protesting the mindless annulment. Some of us were killed
in process; some were lucky enough to escape abroad on self exile. But some of us- very few
indeed- refused to flee our dear country; we stayed back. We stared at the military eyeball to
eyeball. We challenge authority and spoke truth to power. We challenged impunity and
repression. I suffered several detentions across different detention centres. I virtually could
not find means of livelihood for my youthful family because I was profiled, my phones bugged
and no briefs were coming in. But I personally forgive him because it takes tons of guts to
make public confession of having erred and atone for same as he has now done.
It is confession that leads to penance and penance leads to restitution and then forgiveness.
If Babagida were to die today, I believe that he will see the face of God because he has prayed
God to forgive him; and he has prayed Nigerians to forgive him. Beyond that historic and
epochal mistake of the annulment of the June 12 election which constitutes his original sin,
let me place it on record that Babagida is one of the greatest presidents that Nigeria ever had
in terms of his ingenuity, rulership mantra; ideas for national resurgimento; ideas that
contributed greatly to nation-building. These were aside the IMF-induced loans and pills
which he introduced and which we again valiantly fought against successfully.
Babagida it was who gave birth to the Federal Capital Territory and laid the solid foundation for virtually everything you see there today. His government was peopled by intellectuals and
not by half illiterates and quacks. He recognized and used intellects. He was luminous and he built bridges of understanding, friendship and brotherhood across Nigeria. Nigerians,
please, accept IBB’s confession and forgive him his sin of annuling the June 12,1993
elections. Let the wounds heal; let the heart melt; and let the spirit of national triumphalism
prevail.
Festivals world over are the most popular forms of celebrations in human existence. Whether as religious, culture, sports, film, arts and other traditional practices, festivals are pivotal events that could involve millions of people in the case of the religion related across the globe annually or periodically. They are events that bring people together and are characterized with merriments, ceremonies, and a lot of other forms of fun and bonding.
Nigeria as a multi ethnic and diverse society with over 250 ethnic groups is enriched with various forms of festivals observed annually with those of religions most prominent with the celebrations by Muslims and Christians. Similarly, the traditional worshippers retain their own forms of festivals all depending on the tribes and the culture involved. Several among the religious and cultural festivals in Nigeria include Christmas the celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ, the Easter that heralds lent and the resurrection of Jesus after death while Islam has Eid-el Kabir and Eid El-fitri which is breaking of Ramadan fasting. At the level of culture and tradition there other festivals that comes to mind that includes Argungu fishing festival in Kebbi state, the new yam festival predominantly among the Ibo speaking tribes, Durbar festival, Calabar Carnival, Osun festival, Ojude Oba festival, Igue festival among the Benin people of Edo state, Oro festival, Osun festival, Sango festival, Egungun festival all among the Yoruba people, New Yam festival, Eyo festival popular among the people of Lagos Island in Lagos state and so on.
Durbar Festival
The word Durbar is traced to Persian and is connected with the ceremony marking the installation of Queen Victoria as the Express of Colonial India in 1877 while the word have been pronounced and propounded as “darbar” with dar meaning door and bar meaning entry or audience in Hindi-Urdu. In Nigeria, Durbar is a treasured cultural horse riding and display festival majorly among the Hausa people of the northern Nigeria to mark the Islamic holidays of Eid-el- Fitri [end of Ramadan} and Eid-el-Adha [the feast of the lamb]. The over 400 years old practice is said to have been introduced by Sarki Muhammadu Rumfa of Kano in the late 14th century as military parade and display when horses were used in battles to defend and protect the Emirate and also the opportunity to pay homage and demonstrate loyalty to the emir. It is also part of demonstration to showcase the readiness of the palace troops for battles and to also celebrate important political events. Available information has it that the first major Durbar in the country took place on the 1st of January, 1900 as part of the celebration to mark the transition of the Royal Niger Company to an imperial Protectorate.
Also known as horse ride festival it is worthy of note that horses and to some extent camels played prominent roles in the growth and developments of the today prominent Nigeria cities like Kano, Katsina, Zaria, Sokoto and Bida. In the 14th century before the sojourn of Christopher Columbus, aside being used during conquest and in battlefields under the command of the Madawaki who leads cavalry of horsemen with their horses loaded with various weapons, horses were used mostly for commercial activities particularly the trans Sahara trade expansion with items like salt, gold and farm produces.
Ceremonies
The activities and ceremonies involves “Hawan sallah” in Hausa language {meaning Mount of Eid} which in essence connotes the mounting of horse during the Eid or sallah celebration. The ceremonies begin with prayers at Eid grounds followed with parade of the Emir and his entourage on horses followed with drummers and trumpeters with the movement ending at the Emir’s palace. The parade includes hundreds of beautifully decorated horses with nobles in their best clothes followed by musicians and magicians all in a long procession in distinctive turbans {Rawani} clearly indicating their nobility and social status through streets to pay homage to the Emir. Other special attractions particularly in Kano Durbar which is acclaimed to possess the biggest parade of colouful horses in the world, include the display by the “hyena man” who carries out street performance with trained animals like hyenas and baboons which create a lot of excitements and entertainment for the hundreds of crowd in attendance.
The procession of the strictly male event showcases participants dressed in flamboyant turbans and robes with modes indicating their royal linage. Kano Durbar for example is four day event that commences with Hawan sallah on the day of Eid followed by the day 2 and most popular for its entertainment and glamour Hawan Daushe for the special visitation of the Emir and his colourful entourage to his mother in her domain. The display of various entertainers including magicians, drummers, dancers, stunt men and masquerades attract and witness the attendance and spectators across the globe. The other two days are for Hawan Nassarawa and finally Hawan Doriya which are both continuous aspects for merriment during the festival.
The Emir’s return from his mother’s visitation on the day 2 {Hawan Daushe} is followed by The Jahi that sees the him and his entourage ride through various important historical quarters and families before returning to the palace. On arrival the Emir in a military manner takes position to receive salutes and traditional greetings from the cavalry of riders along with the various district heads, their families and entourage in order of hierarchy. This is followed by the demonstration of loyalty and gallantry by all the riders and spectators present. After the homage and performances, [The Jahi] the palace guards take positions and fire several gunshots to signal the closure and end of the day and most important aspect of the four day festival.
Durbar festival has become annual festival celebrated across cities Northern Muslim dominated cities of Nigeria like Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zaria and Bida and was extended to Ilorin in Kwara state during Eid el-fitri and Eid El-Adha. Generally speaking, the Durbar festival is not just the most population cultural heritage of the Hausa people of the northern Nigeria and major parts of Niger republic but it is festival that unite and bring the people together to celebrate their unique historical and cultural heritage.
Durbar festival recently has witnessed more activities like car racing and other fun fairs that attract sons and daughters of Hausa decent, visitors and tourist annually to places like Kano, Katsina and Zaria. The glamour, popularity and attractions of Durbar particularly the Kano Durbar festival over the years, led to the recognition of the festival as one of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO in in December 17, 2024. This laudable and significant achievement in the nation’s cultural heritage exemplified the extent to which the festival has become popular to the people and the role it places towards unifying the people through their rich cultural heritage. During the presentation of the UNESCO certificate, by the Permanent Delegation of Nigeria to UNESCO to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Barr. Hannatu Musawa, opined that the great achievement does “not only celebrates the beauty and unity of the festival but also creates opportunities for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage. The country’s representative at the UNESCO in addition stated that “Having the Kano Durbar on the UNESCO list is a huge milestone for Nigeria” while the Minister in her view remarked that “the recognitions bring both international prestige and tangible benefits to the local economy”.
In comparison, while Ujude Oba yet another similar festival of the Ijebu people of Ogun state in Western Nigeria, entails the participation of both male and female across various age groups as part of the big sallah [Eid-edha] celebration of the Muslim faithful. While both festivals identify or are associated with royalty, palace events and horse riding, durbar is strictly a male show and more of an horse riding festival while the practice is just an aspect of horse riding is just an aspect of Ojude Oba festival.
It is hope that the recent drive by the present administration leverages on the recent recognition of Durbar by the UNESCO to create more awareness through wider media coverage with a view of boosting general interest and tourist attractions which shall cascade or stimulate growth of the sector and also serve as source revenue to the governments across all levels.
Abdulkareem A. Ikharo.
Curator [NCMM].
Abuja.
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