Concerned followers of the Qadiriyya Movement in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State have appealed to the state government to intervene over what they described as religious discrimination, denial of worship rights, and inequitable allocation of Hajj seats within the area.
In a petition addressed to the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the group called for urgent action to protect their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and worship.
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The petition, signed by Aminu Yusuf Maitama and Isah Dahiru on behalf of affected members of the Qadiriyya Movement, alleged that followers of the sect were prevented from conducting Eid prayers in their own mosque.
According to the petitioners, they were informed that they could not observe Eid prayers independently as members of the Qadiriyya Movement and were instead directed to join mosques associated with either the Tijjaniyya or Wahabiyya sects.
The group 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 every citizen the freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and worship.
They argued that the right to worship should not be subjected to coercion, discrimination, or sectarian preference, stressing that all religious groups deserve equal treatment under the law.
The petition also raised concerns over the allocation of Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage exercise.
According to the group, the Kano State Government had adopted an inclusive policy that recognizes the three major Islamic sects—Qadiriyya, Tijjaniyya, and Wahabiyya—in the distribution of Hajj slots across the state’s 44 local government areas.
However, they alleged that in Bagwai Local Government Area, the seat reportedly allocated to the Qadiriyya Movement was reassigned to a member of another sect, a move they said had heightened concerns over exclusion and lack of fair representation.
The petitioners therefore urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene in the interest of justice, fairness, peace, and constitutional order.
They also called on the state government to direct relevant authorities in Bagwai Local Government Area to respect the constitutional rights of Qadiriyya followers by allowing them to freely and peacefully conduct Eid prayers and other religious activities in accordance with their beliefs.
Furthermore, the group appealed for fairness, inclusiveness, and equitable representation of the Qadiriyya Movement in matters relating to Hajj allocations and other religious affairs within the local government area.
The concerned followers expressed confidence in Governor Yusuf’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the protection of the constitutional rights of all citizens of Kano State.
