The Kano State Hisbah Board has denied rumours making rounds in the media that the Board invited the recently crowned Miss Nigeria, ‘Shatu Garko’ and her parents for participating in the beauty contest.
The Director General of the Hisbah Board Dr. Aliyu Musa Kibiya stated this to Newsmen in Kano.
Recall that the Commandant-General of the Board, Harun Muhammad Sani Ibn Sina, had earlier on Wednesday in an interview with the media condemned the participation of Shatu Garko in the beauty pageant, noting that it is against the teachings of Islam and the northern culture.
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Shatu Garko
Shatu Garko is a Nigerian model. She is the 44th Miss Nigeria and the first Hijab model to win the Miss Nigeria beauty pageant. Shatu Garko was born in 2003 in Kano state.
Shatu Garko started her career as a model at a young age. As a teenager she was one of the few hijab models sho stood out in the fashion industry.
He said her parents would soon be invited to speak on why they allowed her participate in the contest.
“We investigated and confirmed that the girl called Shatu Garko is from Kano state and an indigene of Garko Local Government area of Kano state where Hisbah is also working at,” Ibn Sina.
However, there was public outcry over the move and condemnation which led to the Board back-tracking their decision
We never invited Garko for questioning – Hisbah DG
D.G of Hisbah Board stressed that the Command never at any time invited Shatu Garko or her parents for questioning.
However, he added that the Commander of the Board, Haruna Ibn Sina, while responding to questions by Newsmen was the one that preached against the beauty contest, saying it is sinful.
“We never at any time issued any instruction inviting her or her parents for questioning.
“Hisbah only preached against the immoral acts of nudity and revealing the forbidden parts of the body of a woman which is sinful” he stated.
It would be recalled that the Shatu Garko made history by becoming the first Hijab wearing Miss Nigeria when she was crowned last week in Lagos.
The recent decision was as result of many criticism in and outside Kano.
Reactions
Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu said, posted on Social media saying: “So my daughter will participate in beauty pageant and Hisbah will invite me?! Kai! I laugh in unmade D! They will know that day that all of us have bed in psychiatric hospital! Nonsense and rubbish! Nobody has monopoly of violence and foolishness!”(sic).
Former lawmaker, Sani Shehu posted on Social media saying, : “Ms Shatu Garko contested Miss Nigeria pageant decently dressed. She has not crossed the line of our cultural standards here in the North. There are the daughters of the rich and the powerful that have done that with impunity. I appeal to the Hisbah religious authorities to let her be.”
