The emirate was founded in 1809 by the Ngizim or Ngizimawa people. In 1913 the British colonial rulers merged it into the Fika Emirate. In 2000 it was again made an independent emirate. Both the Fika and Potiskum emirates have their headquarters in the city of Potiskum.
Royal Bird at Potiskum Emirates Palace, Yobe State Nigeria
Original emirate
The Potiskum Emirate was organized by the Ngizim people, who had subjugated the Karakare people.[1] The state was formed in 1809 by a Chief of the Ngizim named Mai Bauya or Buyan.[2] In the 19th century people of the Misau emirate often raided the Kerikeri country. The Misau Emir Amadu (1834–1848) captured the capital, Potiskum. Usuman (1848–1861) and Sale (1861–1885) also raided the Kerikeri.[3] In 1901 the Potiskum Emirate became part of the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate.[2]
Modern emirate
In his second term after the return to democracy, on 6 January 2000, Yobe Governor Bukar Ibrahim re-implemented the new emirates, adding Ngazargamo, Gujba, Nguru, Tikau, Pataskum, Yusufari, Gudi, Fune and Jajere[usurped].[4] There had been only four emirates when Yobe State was created. Now there were thirteen.[5] The Emir of Fika, Muhammadu Abali, protested at the break-up of his emirate and took the government to court, but eventually accepted the change.[4]
In May 2007 the Emir of Potiskum, Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, thanked the people for contributing N32 million of the N51 million used to build his new palace.[6] The ultra-modern palace was commissioned by outgoing Governor Bukar Ibrahim.[7] The palace was the scene of a gathering in January 2009 of political leaders including Senate President David Mark, former Senate Presidents Anyim Pius Anyim and Adolphus Wabara and many more, paying tribute to the governor of the state, Senator Mamman Bello Ali who had just died.[8] In June 2010 the Emir of Potiskum gave the title of "Turakin Potiskum" to the state's former commissioner of finance, Alhaji Mohamed Hassan, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the state.[9] In March 2011 Emir Umaru Bubaram gave his support to the campaign of Ibrahim Geidam for a second term as Yobe governor on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.[10]
Traditional Dancers performing During 2023 Sallah Festival at Potiskum Emirate Palace Yobe State, Nigeria
In July 2010 Emir Umaru Bubaram supported a proposal by the Emir of Fika, Muhammadu Abali, to convert the old Potiskum Prison into a museum.[11] In August 2012 during Ramadan the Pataskum Emirate Council distributed bags of millet and guinea corn to needy people under the Islamic Zakat program. The food had been donated by people of the emirate.[12]
Attacks
In May 2012 more than thirty people were killed in an attack in the Potiskum Market. At first linked to Islamistinsurgent group Boko Haram, it was later thought that armed robbers were responsible. Emir Umaru Bubaram visited the scene and condemned the attack.[13]
On 3 November 2014, a suicide bombing at a Shia march in Potiskum killed 15 people. On 10 November, a suicide bombing in a Potiskum secondary school caused the death of over 40 students.[14] An angry mob refused to give soldiers or the State Police Commissioner access to the scene of the incident. The emirs of Fika and Potiskum said they had called on elders in their respective domains to educate the mob on the need to allow security personnel to operate.[15]
On 14 January 2020, a convoy of the Emir of Potiskum Umaru Bubaram and other travellers were attacked by gunmen on Kaduna-Zaria road causing the death of 30 people including four of the emir's aides.[16] The emir escaped unharmed by quickly leaving his vehicle on the scene of the attack and trekking in the bush for two hours.[17]
Rulers
From 1809 to 1858 the rulers took the title Kachalla. They were:[2]
1809–1817 Bauya I
1817–1820 Awany (Awani)
1820–1825 Kuduskunai
1825–1830 Dungari (Dangari)
1830–1832 Dawi (Dowi)
1832–33 Darama (Kunancibai)
1833–34 Mele
1834–35 Malam Bundi I (died 1835)
1835–1856 Mizgai
1856–1858 Jaji I
From 1858 the rulers took the title "Mai". They were:[2]
Akinjide Osuntokun (Spring 1971), "Disaffection and Revolts in Nigeria during the First World War, 1914–1918", Canadian Journal of African Studies, 5 (2), Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Canadian Association of African Studies: 171–192, doi:10.2307/483988, JSTOR483988
Fremantle, J. M. (January 1912), "A History of the Region Comprising the Katagum Division of Kano Province (Continued from p.74, Vol. XI)", Journal of the Royal African Society, 11 (42), Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal African Society: 187–200, JSTOR714612
Monsell, C. N.; Elder, J.H.C. (1919), "Keri-Keri", Notes of the Tribes, Emirates Cb: Notes on the Tribes, Routledge, ISBN978-1-136-96945-4, retrieved 2016-01-12
Schuh, Russell G. (1996), "Review: BOLDU Report I", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 59 (3), Cambridge University Press on behalf of School of Oriental and African Studies, doi:10.1017/s0041977x00031323, JSTOR619876, S2CID161073962
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