HUNDREDS of Qadiriyya Islamic sect followers have staged a peaceful protest during which they expressed dissatisfaction with the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano State.

The protesters, who marched through the Kofar Nassarawa and State Roads on Monday, registered their grievances before members of the Kano State House of Assembly.

The leader of the sect, Shiek Abduljabar Nasiru Kabara, who spoke on behalf of the group, alleged that Qadiriyya members have been unfairly treated since the inception of the Shekarau administration.

He accused Shekarau, who is a member of the Izalla sect of showing preference to his group to the detriment of Qadiriyya and Tijjaniyya sects, which are dominant in the state.

Kabara queried the appointment of two commissioners believed to belong to the Izalla sect, Alhaji Garba Yusuf Abdullahi (Information); Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Rogo (Local Government Affairs) and the Chairman of the Sharia Commission, Sheikh Umar Kabo, saying that they are being used by the governor to undermine the activities of the Qadiriyya sect.

He called for the sack of the trio on the basis that they cannot discharge their duties considering the fact that they are members of the Izalla.

The group's grouse also includes the conferment of powers on the Shariah Commission to appoint imams and supervise mosques in the state, a duty hitherto performed by the Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero.

In a chat with The Guardian, Kabara explained the rationale behind the group's grouse with Shekarau: "We are aware that the governor donates money to his sect in a hidden manner. We also know that he has been asking people to donate money to his Izalla sect without considering our interests".

It was learnt that the Qadiriyya sect was most favoured under former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as it got at least N6 million to organise its Moukibi procession and N3 million during the fasting month of Ramadan yearly.

However, Shekarau stopped the release of the monies, arguing that it is against the teachings of Islam.

An official of the state government who asked not to be named defended Shekarau's action, saying it was in line with his transparency posture.

"We know why they are protesting. They were used to settlement from the past administration but now that the governor stopped it, they are protesting", he said.

"But what is wrong in the governor directing such monies to the feeding of the underprivileged as you saw during the last Ramadan period and other people-oriented programmes?", he queried.