Pre- colonial
administration in the northern part of Nigeria was characterized by emirate
system. The emirate system was the
creation of Utman Dan Fodio following
his successful exaction of the jihad.
With the success came into existence the emporia which Uthman Dan Fodio divided into two sections,
the east and the west, the east had its
headquarters in Sokoto while the west
has its won headquarters in Gwandu. Each of the emirates was under an
emir who in term appointed other subordinate emirs within his sphere of
jurisdiction.
A local emir administered his emirate in line with
Islamic principles and laws, could raise taxes, make laws and extract obedience
and compliance from his subordinates.
POLITICAL SYSTEM OF EMIRATES
Each emirates was composed of districts. The
Hakinis who where appointed to be
in charge of the districts in turn
appointed some village headmen to assist
in the collection of taxes and maintain
law and order, it was the “Haraji” (land
tax ) and the “Jugh" (cattle tax ) collected by the Hakinis and village heads that was used in
running the system and it was upon part of these collections that the Hakimis and the
village head depended.
LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS
The Sahara or Islamic law was supreme and were
believed to be ordained by Allah.