Colonial Domination and Political Change in Magajin Gari District, Katsina Emirate, 1903 – 1960

Abstract

Following the British occupation of Katsina Emirate in 1903, they engaged in the search for loyal and viable leaders, who would implement colonial policies under the Native Authority system. That was why the British engaged in the imposition and deposition of rulers in Katsina, in order to meet their objectives. The Emir and and the officials of the emirate were turned into employees of the colonial government and were paid salary to buttress that point. Also, the emirate system was destroyed and
restructured in order to implement British colonial policies. Magajin Gari was carved into a district, and an official Magajin Gari was made the district head, who was responsible for the collection of taxes, maintenance of law and order for the successful operation of the colonial state. Thus the British succeeded in eroding the system of emirate administration, and replaced it with the colonial system, that was centred on the exploitation of human and materials resources of our area of study. The rulers were used as tools in the running of the colonial state, under the guise of Indirect rule system.