The Adamawa Emirate IV

Whilst the Germans fought the Adamawa Wars against the Emirate separately, the British deployed 22 European officers and NCOs and 365 mercenaries, 275-mm guns and 4 Maxim guns, led by Colonel T.N.L. Morland for the occupation of Yola on 2 September 1901. They travelled using steamboats on the lake Njuwa and were anchored near a baobob tree locally called Bokki Hampeto. They advanced through the town till they reached the Lamido’s palace and Friday mosque which were heavily defended. Morland himself was wounded by an arrow.

The morning after, the British forces blew up the palace’s visitors chambers and other “important looking buildings” in the town of Yola. Morland also heard rumours that Lamido Zubayru, who escaped with his life, fled to Gurin, forty miles east of Yola. Acting Commissioner Wallace with Colonel Morland, by steamboat, quickly travelled to Gurin in pursuit of the Lamido. With them were 8 European officers and NCOs, 150 mercenaries and 2 maxim guns. After journeying on the river Benue, river Faro and river Heso for 26 hours, they arrived in Gurin only to be told that Emir was never there. They turned back towards Yola without any encounter. They later got information that Zubayru was in Ribadu, fourteen miles behind them. Wallace turned back to Yola to appoint a new “Lamido” while Morland and his forces marched towards Ribadu only to find out Lamido Zubayru had also not been there. Morland spent the night in Ribadu. On the morning of 7 September, Colonel Morland shelled the town of Ribadu before returning to Yola. Bobbo Ahmadu was later installed as Lamido Adamawa by the British colonial administrators.

Chronology of Events

 Mbororo’en in Adamawa (1900)

1300–1350: Fulani arrive in Kanem empire as envoys of Emperor of Mali

1452–1463: More Fulbe enter Hausaland and Kanem-Bornu with Islamic books.

1700s: Different Fulani groups enter Adamawa looking for pasturage for cattle

1770: Modibo Adama is born probably at Beltunde

1808: Adama sent to Uthman dan Fodio to enquire on jihad

1809: Uthman Dan Fodio gives Adama flag and appoints him leader of the jihad in Fombina

1810–1811: Adama leads jihad in Mandara

1818: Hamman Sambo leads jihad to the South and founds Tibati

1831: Modibbo Adama moves capital to Ribadu from Gurin

1835–1837: Njobdi establishes Fulani rule in Ngaoundere

1841: Modibbo Adama moves capital to Yola

1842: Hamman Sambo receives flag from Atiku, Sultan of Sokoto, making Tibati independent of Adamawa

1842–1843: Hamman Sambo returns flag to Sultan of Sokoto and renews his loyalty to Modibbo Adama. Tibati rejoins Adamawa

February 1847: Modibbo Adama passes and Lauwal becomes Lamido of Adamawa

1872: Lamido Lauwal passes and Sanda becomes Lamido of Adamawa

1883: National African Company (later renamed Royal Niger Company) granted permission to trade and build factories in Yola by Lamido Sanda

1889: The British Commissioner, Claude MacDonald, visits Yola and Lamido Sanda refuses to see him

1890: Lamido Sanda passes and Zubayru becomes Lamido of Adamawa

1891: Lamido Zubayru sends spys to report on the Royal Niger Company in Nupeland

1893: Lamido Zubayru summoned German, British and French representatives to resolve conflicts among them.

1898: German invasion of Southern Adamawa

1901: British invasion of Yola

Sub-emirates of Fombina

Mizon arrives in Ngaoundéré (1894)

Adamawa was a large and linguistically heterogenous emirate with over 42 sub-emirates a few of which were fairly autonomous. Some of its major sub-emirates include: Cheboa, Tibati, Ngaoundéré, Bamnyo, Malabu, Rai-Buba, Song, Zummo, Gola, Holma Pakorgel, Marwa, Bogo, Kobotshi, Laro, Belel, Daware, Mayo-Farang, Sorau, Madagali, Gider, Michika, Moda, Mubi, Uba, Mindif, Binder, Ribadu, Ribemi, Kalfu, Be, Demsa, Vokna Tola, Agorma, Pette, Wuro Mayo-Njarendi, Mbere and Balala.

Conflict between sub-emirates (ruled by a Lamido) was frequent, and the Emir in Yola often had to mediate between them or lead military intervention when necessary. The nature and strength of the bonds between Yola and the Sokoto Caliphate, and between Yola and the lamidates, could vary widely depending on the context and interests of each party but was generally loose.

His Royal Highness Dr Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, CFR, the 12th Lamido of Adamawa/Wikipedia

Administrative structure

Adamawa drew heavily from Sokoto’s administrative principles, particularly from the writings and teachings of the three reformist leaders, Usman, Abdullahi, and Bello. Sokoto’s administrative structure was rooted in Maliki law.

Lamido Lauwal introduced various titles, such as Galadima, Waziri, Alkali, Agia, and Sarkin Yaki, which formed the Lamido’s council. The chief councillor was often between the Galadima and Waziri, usually depending who was older or more experienced. Each title holder led large state departments, contributing to the governance and organization of the emirate. None of these positions were hereditary. This formalization aligned Adamawa’s administrative framework more closely with the administrative thought of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Galadima

Galadima Aminu during the coronation of Lamido Yerima in 1946

The holder of this title in Adamawa held the role of overseeing the internal administration of the emirate and managing relations between Yola and its numerous districts. This title holder played a significant part in the appointment of officials to fill vacant positions. The Galadima received reports from district heads of Yola. Additionally, he was responsible for ensuring discipline and adherence to the Pulaaku code of conduct throughout the emirate’s capital. Sambo Holma, a close confidant of Adama, is believed to have been the first Galadima.

1. Buba Mbamoi: soon after the office was established, Modibbo Adama appointed Mbamoi as Galadima. At the time, the post was the highest position in government.
2. Fariku (1853–1901): after the death of Mbamoi, Lamido Lauwal appointed the eldest son of Modibbo Alkasum as his replacement. Alkasum was a former servant of Adama and a brother-in-law to Lawal.
3. Adamu Goni (1901–1920): Alkasum’s third son was made Galadima during the reign of Muhammad Abba.
4. Dahiru B. Isa: the fourth Galadima was Dahiru, a grandson of Modibbo Raji, an influential Islamic scholar who immigrated to Adamawa from Gwandu during the reign of Lawal. He, along with his cousin Muhammadu Girei (later appointed Sardauna and District Head of Michika and Maiha) and Mallu Hamman (later appointed as Waziri), were the first from Adamawa to be Western-educated after attending Hanns Vischer’s school in Kano in 1911.   He was Adamawa’s first Native Treasurer before his appointment as Galadima.
5. Aminu: Dahiru was succeeded by his cousin who doubled as the District Head of Yola.
6. Usman Muqaddas: Aminu was succeeded by his brother.
7. Bello Ahmed: Usman was succeeded by his brother.
8. Murtala Aminu OFR (1986–2011): Bello was succeeded by a son of Aminu, who was a barrister and solicitor. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for the Gongola State government from 1976 to 1979. He was a member of the five-man Legal Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, contributing to the drafting of the 1979 Constitution that established the Second Republic. Additionally, he was part of the 46-member 1988 Constitutional Review Committee and later a member of the Constituent Assembly that developed the 1993 Constitution, which brought about the Third Republic. He also held positions as the chairman of Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Adamawa State and the national legal adviser of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. He resigned as Galadima following a disagreement with Lamido Barkindo.
9. Aliyu Usman Raji (2012–2014): after the resignation of Murtala, Barkindo appointed Aliyu who was a retired Grand Khadi.
10. Mustapha Aminu (2014–present): after the death of Aliyu, he was succeeded by Mustapha Aminu.