Zazzau Abuja encounters with colonial powers

The number of Hausa Habe Kings of Zazzau from Gunguma, were exactly 60, before the Usman Dan Fodio Jihad. Muhamman Makau, the 60th, was the son of the 59th king, Isyaku Jatau. He ascended the throne in 1802. Two years later in 1804, he was overthrown as a result of the Jihad, which ushered in the Fulani reign at Zaria.

Makau fled Zaria to a new destination, later named Abuja, along with two of his brothers, Abubakar Jatau and Abubakar Kwaka, also the sons of Isyaku Jatau. Thenceforth, the original Zazzau dynasty continues. It took them 24 years before the establishment of the Abuja town in 1828. Although it was Makau that led the Zage-Zagis on the plight from Zaria, but the town was not established until after his death.

Thus, the first King at Abuja was Makau’s brother, Abubakar Jatau, the 62nd Habe Sarkin Zazzau. Hence, the name Abu-ja was derived after his name. The Emirs of Abuja, now Suleja, have their chronologies numbered from the first King of Zazzau. Thus, Malam Muhammadu Awwal Ibrahim, the reigning Emir is the 8th Emir of Suleja, and the 69th Habe King of Zazzau. He is the grandson of Mamman Gani the fourth Emir of Abuja.

While on flight, and being hotly pursued, Makau crossed many regions. Some of the kings urged him to stay with them, others were afraid to accommodate him for the fear of being consumed by the Fulani’s on his chase. His decisions on where to have his final camp were guided by the advice of the Islamic scholars in his entourage. Their concern was only an area where they can have a safe sanctuary, wade off the enemies hotly on their trail, and become formidable against any external aggression.

Their final choice for the establishment of the new town is located north of River Iku a perennial river feeding the once famous and now neglected Mayanka Falls. The scholars predicted that locating their new settlement north of the Iku River, not the south, shall make them formidable against any external aggression from enemies, unless it was an aggressor with a combined strength of twelve kingdoms.

Hence, true to that prediction, Abuja was never conquered at their home by the Fulani aggressors and other precolonial empires. The only exception was their encounter at Lapai, which was away from their base. It was the advent of the colonial powers that came with the strength which overwhelmed the entire geographical entity known as Nigeria today.

The influence of Abuja prior to the advent of the colonial powers, extended to the districts of Kutada and Tawari close to Uma’isha, controlled by the Madawaki of Abuja. It was on the trade route from Lokoja through Abuja to Zaria and the other Hausa states. It was the same route leading to Keffi and other towns to the east and north. Also, to Jos and Bauchi. The Madawaki’s men in resistance and rebellion to the British authority, would kill travellers along the route and seize their goods. A British resident, named Carnegie, including others, and a messenger of the British were killed at Tawari.

In August 1902, Captain Moloney, the Resident of Nasarawa Province who was shortly afterward murdered at Keffi, together with Lieutenant-Colonel Beddoes and a company of soldiers were ordered to fight Abuja. When they arrived from Lokoja they crossed the River Iku, camped at the outskirt. They later arrested the Madawaki and waged war on the town. The Zazzau Abuja Kingdom acceded to the British after the fall of the third King Ibrahim Iyalai, the son of Abubakar Jatau. He was mortally injured in the battle with the British at Abuchi.

Ibrahim Iyalai was one of the warrior emirs who did his utmost to guard the land of Abuja and prevent it from falling into the hands of the Fulani as all the surrounding country had long since fallen. Muhamman Gani, the son of the second King Abubakar Kwaka was installed by the British to succeed Iyalai, thereby becoming the fourth king.

Muhamman Gani was also deposed by the British in 1917 as a result of some disagreements. He chose to retire to Zaria and was warmly received by the Emir of Zazzau, Zaria, Aliyu Dan Sidi. He lived there on pension until his dead in 1919.

His successor as the 5th Emir of Abuja was Musa Angulu, the son of Ibrahim Iyalai. He also had a disagreement with Mr. Meir, the British Resident of his time. The Resident openly told the Emir, that he was going on a tour and as soon as he return he will dethrone him. The Emir also openly prayed for his safe return.

When Mr. Meir left, his subjects asked the Emir whether he actually understood what the Resident said. The Emir asked them in return, “Has he not said that until he returned? If so has he returned?” And the Resident never returned. He took ill soon after he left Abuja town at Maje. That was where he subsequently died and was buried.

At the time of his quest for a suitable base when he departed Zaria in 1804, Makau never had the slightest idea that in a not distance future, 1914, a new country, Nigeria, will be created. And that his chosen location will not only be the geographic center, but also the capital city of that great nation in 1976.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.