ABSTRACT
The Chronicle remarks that Usuman “remained hostile to the sons of Abbas” throughout his reign. That is quite possible; but of Abbas’ sons, only two, Bayero and Abdulkadiri, held territorial offices on their father’s death, and neither was dismissed. Usuman’s unsatisfactory administration is illustrated by the history of the senior judgeship during his reign. On his accession, Muhammadu Dikko, whom Aliyu had dismissed from the office of Limam, was the Alkalin Kano. Meanwhile, Usuman developed the political realignments by which he concentrated power at the palace, between himself and his senior slaves, and beyond reach of the vizier or the British Administration. In place of the traditional Council of State, which had been used variously by different emirs, Usuman directed Kano’s affairs through the Dan Rimi Sambo, the Shamaki Salihi and the Sallama. In differing ways, Abbas and Usuman had both adapted this essential discretionary power to the conditions of indirect rule.
