Adamawa Emirate Celebrates 200 Years

Adamawa Emirate Celebrates 200 Years

Mohammed Zayyad

Saturday April 11^th 2009, will be a historic day in the history of Adamawa state, as Adamawa Emirate celebrates its bicentenary anniversary. Two Hundred years ago the Emirate was founded as part of the greater Sokoto Islamic jihad. At present, socialization and modernisation has transformed the Emirate into a cosmopolitan one, accommodating diverse ethnic and religious groups.

However, going down memory lane, it is apparent that the Emirate has not lost its rich cultures and traditions. In 1809, Modibbo Adama bin Ardo Hassana, a disciple of Othman Danfodio, founded the Fombina Emirate, which is today call Adamawa Emirate. Modibbo Adama bin Ardo Hassana was born in 1771 and ruled the Emirate from 1809 to 1848, he had 11 Sons and 4 Daughters; some of his sons, grandsons and great grandsons later ruled the Emirate.

Lamido Muhammadu Lawal bin Adama who was born in 1797, was the second Lamido of Adamawa, he ruled the emirate for 24 years, from 1848 to 1872, he died in 1872. The third Lamido was Lamido Umaru Sanda bin Adama, he ruled the emirate for 18 years from 1872 to 1890, he died in 1890. The fourth Lamido was Lamido Zubairu bin Adama, who ruled the emirate for 11 years; he reigned from 1890 to 1901. On 2 September 1901, war broke out between Lamido Zubairu and the British forces over trading disputes, Lamido Zubairu's forces were defeated and he fled Yola, his seat of government.

On 8 September 1901, the British appointed Bobbo Ahmadu, his younger brother as the fifth Lamido. Lamido Bobbo Ahmadu bin Adama died in 1916. The sixth Lamido was Lamido Muhammad Yarima Iya Bin Sanda, he reigned for eighteen months, from 1909 to 1910, the shortest reign in the history of the emirate, he abdicated the throne voluntarily because he was fed up with threats of deposition and exile by the colonial government. The seventh Lamido was Lamido Muhammad Abba bin Bobbo Ahmadu he ruled the emirate for 14 years from 1910 to 1924, he died on 23rd August 1924. Eighth on the throne was Lamido Muhammad Bello bin Ahmadu, who died in 1928 after reigning for 4 years from 1924 to 1928. The ninth Lamido was Lamido Muhammad Mustafa bin Abba, he ruled the Emirate for 18 years, he was born in 1900 and died in 1946. The tenth Lamido was Lamido Yarima Ahmadu bi Muhammad Bello; he ruled for 7 years, his reign was full of rancour between him and the members of the emirate council. Finally, the acrimony led to the forced abdication of the Lamido in 1953 after seven years on the throne.

Nearly two centuries after the creation of Adamawa Emirate, tremendous changes have occurred in the Emirate’s landmass; at inception the emirate covered 40,000 square miles comprising northern part of the Republic of Cameroon, Southern part of former Borno State and the present Taraba State. Today, the Emirate is still strong and virile with rich traditions, and exemplary social co-existence between diverse cultures and groups. Adamawa emirate a product of Othman Danfodio Islamic jihad, has remained a spiritual Islamic centre by birth and a home of all by socialization.

Born in 1922, Dr Aliyu Musdafa was turbaned as the 11th Lamido of Adamawa on 26^th July 1953; he received the staff of office from Governor Sir Bryan Sherwood-Smith of the British colonial Administration. During the past five decades, he has steered Adamawa emirate from its rural set-up to a pinnacle of modernization, he has extended his hands beyond the border of Islam, and he is maintaining a balance between Muslims and Christians in his domain. Today Adamawa State has traditional titleholders from diverse ethnic, religious, educational and social background. Topmost among them are: former vice president Atiku Abubakar (Turakin Adamawa), Admiral Murtala Nyako the current Governor of Adamawa state (Sarkin Yakin Gabas), former Inspector General of Police Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta (Dan Lawan Adamawa), former Nigeria Ambassador to the US Hassan Adamu (Wakilin Adamawa), Alh. Bamanga Tukur (Tafidan Adamawa), Professor Jibril Amin, Alh. Dahiru Bobbo (Dan Madamin Adamawa) and Col. Bitrus Sawa (Masanin Adamawa) etc.

All the 11 Lamidos have exhibited the character of Statesmen, having created love and compassion within the Emirate; the Lamidos love their subjects and enjoyed tremendous respect from both the ordinary man on the street and the elites. As it was attested to by a prominent member in the inner caucus of Adamawa Emirate, Alh Jamilu Lamido ( chukalin Adamawa) who said: “ I have the pleasure of being exceptionally close to the present Lamido and a witness to his effort in serving his people conscientiously with dedication, fairness and impartiality”.

At age 99, Dr. Aliyu Musdafa is an exemplary leader, his old age does not deter him from attending his farms at Yola, Girei, Ngurore, Mandere and Bole. He has helped in preserving the culture and traditions of Adamawa people, and also embraced modernization; the Lamido’s palace is today a modern edifice and also houses the Fombina museum; where all historical monuments of the emirate are on display, and the historic Modibbo Adama mosque beautifully reconstructed.