With the death of Sarki Bello, emir of Kano [Usman] requested ex- Sarkin Dutse Musa to return to Dutse from Shira and present any of his Sons to succeed Bello. Sulemanu naturally became the successor.
He was nick-named [maje-Fajewa] because of his determination to stop the Ningawa and Hadejawa under Buhari from ever venturing to Kano territories. He helped to defend Miga and Harbo to the east from Hadejawa, and Birnin kudu and part of Sumaila from falling into the hands of Ningawa.