SULTAN @ 10: REMEMBERING OTHER ‘SULTANS OF SOKOTO’

In continuation of the Tenth Year Anniversary of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar’s as Sultan of Sokoto, we today discuss the other nineteen Sultans as described in a new book presented this Friday in Sokoto. Modelled after “The Sultans of Turkey”, this thorough and painstaking effort is a 514-page (532 if preliminary pages, maps and family […]

In continuation of the Tenth Year Anniversary of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar’s as Sultan of Sokoto, we today discuss the other nineteen Sultans as described in a new book presented this Friday in Sokoto. Modelled after “The Sultans of Turkey”, this thorough and painstaking effort is a 514-page (532 if preliminary pages, maps and family tree are included) tome edited by Professors Alkasum Abba, Ibrahim Jumare and Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu (with contributions from many other scholars) and published by Arewa House, Kaduna (research arm of ABU, Zaria) on behalf of the Sultanate Council, Sokoto. In his foreword, this Sultan says the book extols “the virtues of leadership and good governance…equity and justice…which we need to build a strong, responsive and virile nation.”

SHEHU USMAN DANFODIO (1754-1817 – Founder of the Sokoto Caliphate): The Shehu, as progenitor of all the Sultans, was not addressed as Sultan. The honorific title of Shehu (Shaikh) best describes him. Born 1174, Shehu studied with his uncle Usman Binduri and Shaikh Jibril bn Umar in Agades (now in Niger Republic). The Shehu and his younger brother Mallam Abdullahi travelled widely within Hausaland and beyond – to Kabi, Zamfara, Zabarma, Daura, etc, where they taught and wrote and preached and protested against the Hausa Kings’ political oppressions and heavy taxations. People flocked to him. The Shehu’s home-state, Gobir, was a superpower among the Hausa States. His ministry extended through the reigns of three Kings of Gobir – Bawa, Nafata and Yunfa. Like in the case of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be peace), a Hijra and ‘exile’ also became the Shehu’s lot. His Jihad – essentially a revolution against oppression and exploitation – began in 1804, and the Caliphate was born. The Shehu died in 1817. May Allah be pleased with the Shehu.

SULTAN MUHAMMAD BELLO (1817-1837): While the Shehu is noted as the ‘Founder’ of the Sokoto Caliphate, Bello is generally regarded as its ‘Builder and Maker’. As Amirul Muminin (Commander of the Faithful), Bello exhibited and displayed charisma and resilience in preserving and protecting the Caliphate against imminent disintegration with the death of Shehu. He was very learned and authored many books. When Hugh Clapperton, the English forerunner of colonialism, visited Sokoto almost two centuries ago, he reported that: “Bello asked me a great many questions about Europe and Christianity…When he asked to which sect we belonged, I answered Protestants. What are Protestants, he further asked. He continued to ask several theological questions until I was obliged to confess myself not sufficiently versed in religious subtleties…” Bello was an expert in administration, foreign policy, jurisprudence, economics and above all politics. His was the golden age for the Caliphate. He was a comprehensively successful leader. He died in 1837.

SULTAN ABUBAKAR ATIKU (1837-1842): Fourth child of the Shehu and younger brother of Bello (although also younger than another Prince, Buhari, who was away when Bello died), this Sultan had functioned as a sort Caliphate Foreign Minister during his older brother’s reign. He consolidated the borders of the Caliphate and was engaged in many military skirmishes. He also made Sokoto town the temporal and spiritual capital, rather than Wurno which Bello preferred. He died in 1842.

SULTAN ALIYU BABBA (1842-1859): He was said to be a mild and moderate person. A writer said of him: “He was…fond of laughter, with good features and a fine long beard, beloved by the people, beneficent to them…No one could talk him into action against a poor wretch.” He operated a kind and just administration enjoyed by his subjects. He died in 1859.

SULTAN AHMADU ZARUKU (1859-1866): An administrative milestone achieved by this Sultan, and which should be carefully studied by today’s leaders, was his success in settling of some Fulani nomadic tribes whose nomadic lifestyle had been a problem for many Sultans before him. He exerted political pressure to achieve this, and instructed the now-settled nomads to keep the law and respect authorities. He died in 1866.

SULTAN ALIYU KARAMI (1866-1867): He is referred to as ‘Karami’ (‘Younger’) to distinguish him from Aliyu ‘Babba’ (‘Older’) though in actual fact some claim the Karami was older than the Babba in age. Interestingly (though this part of history is muted), it is claimed that while his father was Sultan Bello, his mother Halima was daughter of Sarkin Gobir Yunfa, against whom the Shehu had fought but the daughter of whom Bello was later to marry. A full Hausa-Fulani, if you will. He is said to be pious, far-sighted and highly disciplined. His was stabilising reign for the Caliphate. He died 1867.

SULTAN AHMADU RUFA’I (1867-1873): A son of the Shehu, he was described to have a striking resemblance to his father. He was said to be dynamic, modest, soft-spoken and accessible, much like the Shehu. He was also known to be firm and strict and hard on law breakers and criminals, but soft on obedient citizens. He was also a prolific writer like the Shehu. He was pragmatic, and made peace rather than go to war. He accurately predicted British Colonial Rule which came 40 years after his death. He died in 1873.

SULTAN ABUBAKAR ATIKU NA RABAH (1873-1877): His exemplary conduct, justice and equity, couple with his personal piety, contributed in making the Caliphate to enjoy enhanced security during his time. He preferred to live off his personal earnings, rather than the Treasury. Public funds were used to cater for widows, orphans and the destitute. He died in 1877. 

SULTAN MU’AZU (1877-1881): Justice was a trademark of his administration. European ‘explorers’ frequented the Caliphate during his time. He died in 1877.

SULTAN UMAR DAN ALIYU BABBA (1881-1891): He is said to have literally ‘seized’ power as the Kingmakers were reluctant to appoint him. Said to be intelligent and astute. And tough. Peace reigned and agriculture thrived. He died in 1891.

SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN DANYEN KASKO (1891-1902): He came in turbulent times – just before the arrival of the colonialists. There was civil war in Kano, and there were refugees from Segu fleeing the French. Altogether complex. He introduced community policing. He died in 1902.

SULTAN MUHAMMADU ATTAHIRU I (1902-1903): The British came, saw and conquered the Caliphate during his time. Embarked on Hijra but was seized and exiled to Lokoja where he died.

SULTAN MUHAMMADU ATTAHIRU II (1903-1915): First post-colonial Sultan. Lord Lugard said of him: “Attahiru is a man whose face and manner greatly prepossessed me in his favour.” He died in 1915.

SULTAN MUHAMMADU MAITURARE (1915-1924): Heralded European-led modern development of Sokoto. A colonial officer wrote: “He was every inch a King.” He died in 1924.

SULTAN MUHAMMADU TAMBARI (1924-1931): Said to have been appointed by the colonial rulers in defiance to the Kingmakers. His reign saw the coming of European industries. There were so many intrigues fanned by the colonial masters which led to this Sultan’s abdication and consequent exile in Wukari.

SULTAN HASSAN DAN MU’AZU (1931-1938): His appointment was a surprise as the colonial masters had earlier connived to deny him. Western-style education (Boko) caught on strongly. He died in 1938.

SULTAN ABUBAKAR III (1938-1988): Longest reigning Sultan. Father of the current. Tremendous development during his time. Said to be highly humorous, simple and accessible. He died in 1988.

SULTAN IBRAHIM DASUKI (1988-1996): Highly educated Sultan. Reformist. From the Bukari branch of the Shehu family. Deposed by the military in 1996. First exiled to Zing, now lives in Kaduna.

SULTAN MUHAMMADU MACCIDO (1996-2006): A humble and simple Sultan who died in a plane crash in 2006.

SULTAN MUHAMMAD SA’AD ABUBAKAR (2006-Date): Friend of all. (Read about him on last week’s Column.)