Suleja Emirate
Encyclopedia
The Suleja Emirate is a Hausa
principality in what is now Niger State
, Nigeria.
The emirate was established as the Abuja Emirate during the 19th century, located just north of the site of the present-day federal capital city named Abuja
. When the new city was established, the emirate and its capital were renamed the Suleja Emirate and Suleja
.
The emirate covers about 1,150 square miles (2,980 square km) of wooded savanna area.
, Zazzau’s capital, 137 miles (220 km) north-northeast about 1804, Muhammadu Makau, sarki (king) of Zazzau, led many of the Hausa nobility to the Koro town of Zuba. Abu Ja (Jatau), his brother and successor as Sarkin Zazzau, founded Abuja town in 1828, began construction of its wall a year later, and proclaimed himself the first sarki of Abuja, while retaining the title Sarkin Zazzau. Withstanding Zaria attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the Fulani emirates of Bida (to the west) and Zaria began in Emir Abu Kwaka’s reign (1851–77).
When Abuja’s leaders disrupted the trade route between Lokoja
and Zaria in 1902, the British occupied the town. Alluvial tin mining began in Emir Musa Angulu’s reign (1917–44).
In 1976 a large part of the emirate plus territory from other states became the Federal Capital Territory, centred on the new city of Abuja
. The emirate was renamed Suleja, based on the renamed town of Suleja
which remained in Niger State.
Awwal Ibrahim
became the Emir, or Sarkin Zazzau, of Suleja
in 1993.
His accession resulted in rioting and destruction of property by opponents.
He was deposed on 10 May 1994 by General Sani Abacha
.
After the return to democracy, Awwal Ibrahim was restored to his title of Emir of Suleja on 17 January 2000.
His restoration again caused a series of violent clashes, forcing the government to call in anti-riot troopers and impose a 20-hour curfew.
Hausa people
The Hausa are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. They are a Sahelian people chiefly located in northern Nigeria and southeastern Niger, but having significant numbers living in regions of Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan...
principality in what is now Niger State
Niger State
Niger State is a state in the western part of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State.The state is named...
, Nigeria.
The emirate was established as the Abuja Emirate during the 19th century, located just north of the site of the present-day federal capital city named Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
. When the new city was established, the emirate and its capital were renamed the Suleja Emirate and Suleja
Suleja
Suleja is a city in Niger State, Nigeria, pop. local government area, 216,578,just north of Abuja, capital of the Suleja Emirate. It is sometimes confused with the nearby city of Abuja, due to its proximity, and the fact that it was originally called Abuja before the Nigerian government adopted...
.
The emirate covers about 1,150 square miles (2,980 square km) of wooded savanna area.
History
The current emirate originally included four small Koro chiefdoms that paid tribute to the Hausa Zazzau Emirate. After warriors of the Fulani jihad (holy war) captured ZariaZaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
, Zazzau’s capital, 137 miles (220 km) north-northeast about 1804, Muhammadu Makau, sarki (king) of Zazzau, led many of the Hausa nobility to the Koro town of Zuba. Abu Ja (Jatau), his brother and successor as Sarkin Zazzau, founded Abuja town in 1828, began construction of its wall a year later, and proclaimed himself the first sarki of Abuja, while retaining the title Sarkin Zazzau. Withstanding Zaria attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the Fulani emirates of Bida (to the west) and Zaria began in Emir Abu Kwaka’s reign (1851–77).
When Abuja’s leaders disrupted the trade route between Lokoja
Lokoja
Lokoja is the capital city of Kogi State, in central Nigeria, and is a port on Niger River.-History:Founded by William Balfour Baikie according to European historical records, although there have been indigenous people living in the area for thousands of years...
and Zaria in 1902, the British occupied the town. Alluvial tin mining began in Emir Musa Angulu’s reign (1917–44).
In 1976 a large part of the emirate plus territory from other states became the Federal Capital Territory, centred on the new city of Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
. The emirate was renamed Suleja, based on the renamed town of Suleja
Suleja
Suleja is a city in Niger State, Nigeria, pop. local government area, 216,578,just north of Abuja, capital of the Suleja Emirate. It is sometimes confused with the nearby city of Abuja, due to its proximity, and the fact that it was originally called Abuja before the Nigerian government adopted...
which remained in Niger State.
Awwal Ibrahim
Awwal Ibrahim
Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim is a Nigerian traditional ruler who served as governor of Niger State from October 1979 to December 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic...
became the Emir, or Sarkin Zazzau, of Suleja
Suleja
Suleja is a city in Niger State, Nigeria, pop. local government area, 216,578,just north of Abuja, capital of the Suleja Emirate. It is sometimes confused with the nearby city of Abuja, due to its proximity, and the fact that it was originally called Abuja before the Nigerian government adopted...
in 1993.
His accession resulted in rioting and destruction of property by opponents.
He was deposed on 10 May 1994 by General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
.
After the return to democracy, Awwal Ibrahim was restored to his title of Emir of Suleja on 17 January 2000.
His restoration again caused a series of violent clashes, forcing the government to call in anti-riot troopers and impose a 20-hour curfew.
List of rulers
Following is a list of the rulers of the emirate.| Start | End | Ruler |
|---|---|---|
| 1804 | 1825 | Muhammadu Makau dan Ishaqu Jatau (d. 1825) |
| 1825 | 2 August 1851 | Jatau "Abu Ja" dan Ishaqu Jatau (d. 1851) |
| 2 August 1851 | 29 July 1877 | Abu Kwaka "Dogon Sarki" dan Ishaqu Jatau (d. 1877) |
| 29 July 1877 | August 1902 | Ibrahim "Iyalai" "Dodon Gwari" dan Jatau (d. 1902) |
| 1902 | 1917 | Muhammad Gani dan Abu Kwaka |
| May 1917 | 3 March 1944 | Musa Angulu dan Ibrahim (d. 1944) |
| 13 March 1944 | 1979 | Sulaimanu Barau dan Muhammad Gani Sulaimanu Barau Suleimanu Barau, OBE was the 6th emir of Abuja. Then, the name Abuja implied the name of the emirate controlled by the Habes who had fled Zazzau during the Fulani Jihad. He was born to the family of Mohammed Gani and attended Bida Provincial School... (d. 1979) |
| 1979 | 1993 | Malam Ibrahim Dodo Musa (d. 1993) |
| 1993 | 10 May 1994 | Awwal Ibrahim Awwal Ibrahim Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim is a Nigerian traditional ruler who served as governor of Niger State from October 1979 to December 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic... (1st time) (b. 1941) |
| 10 May 1994 | 17 January 2000 | Bashir Sulaiman Barau |
| 17 January 2000 | Awwal Ibrahim Awwal Ibrahim Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim is a Nigerian traditional ruler who served as governor of Niger State from October 1979 to December 1983 during the Nigerian Second Republic... (2nd time) |