Suleja emirate | |
|---|---|
  Suleja emirate | |
| Coordinates:9°11′N7°11′E / 9.183°N 7.183°E /9.183; 7.183 | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Niger State |
| Government | |
| • Emir (Sarkin Zazzau) | Awwal Ibrahim |
TheSuleja Emirate (Hausa:Masarautar Suleja) is aHausa principality in what is nowNiger State, Nigeria. The emirate was established as theAbuja Emirate during the 19th century as a successor to theKingdom of Zazzau, and was located just north of the site of the present-day federal capital city namedAbuja. When the new city was established, the emirate and its capital were renamed the Suleja Emirate andSuleja.The emirate covers about 1,150 square miles (2,980 square km) of wooded savanna area.[1]Suleja Emirate,Kontagora Emirate,Borgu Emirate,Agaie Emirate andKagara Emirate were the major Emirates in Niger state.
The current emirate originally included four smallKoro chiefdoms that paid tribute to the HausaZazzau Emirate. After warriors of theFulani jihad (holy war) capturedZaria, theKingdom of Zazzau's capital, 137 miles (220 km) north-northeast in about 1804, Muhammadu Makau,sarki (king) of Zazzau, led many of theHausa 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 titleSarkin Zazzau. Withstanding Zazzau's attacks, the Abuja emirate remained an independent Hausa refuge. Trade with the Fulani emirates ofBida (to the west) and Zazzau (now the city ofZaria) began in Emir Abu Kwaka's reign (1851–77).[2][3]
When Abuja's leaders disrupted the trade route betweenLokoja and Zaria in 1902, the British occupied the town. Alluvialtin mining began in Emir Musa Angulu's reign (1917–44).[2]In 1976 a large part of the emirate plus territory from other states became theFederal Capital Territory, centred on the new city ofAbuja. The emirate was renamedSuleja, based on the renamed town ofSuleja which remained in Niger State.[4]
Awwal Ibrahim became the Emir, or Sarkin Zazzau, ofSuleja in 1993.His accession resulted in rioting and destruction of property by opponents.[5]He was deposed on 10 May 1994 by GeneralSani Abacha.[6]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.[7]
Following is a list of the rulers of the emirate.[8]
| 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 (d. 1979) |
| 1979 | 1993 | Malam Ibrahim Dodo Musa (d. 1993) |
| 1993 | 10 May 1994 | Awwal Ibrahim (1st time) (b. 1941) |
| 10 May 1994 | 17 January 2000 | Bashir Sulaiman Barau |
| 17 January 2000 | Awwal Ibrahim (2nd time) |