Emir Abbas  appointed Abdullahi 1 as the new District  Head of Dutse. He started his administration with a very impressive tax drive to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessors.

 Within a few years, problems of emigration to neighboring Districts of Gaya and Birnin-Kudu  where  the taxes are relatively lower drained his efforts.

When tax records for the year 1914/1915 for the District fell to the lowest level, the Colonial administration charged him  as lacking in the ability to take total control  of the District and therefore directed the emir to appoint someone to assist him in his primary duties.  Dan-Lawan  [Ahmadu Gurara] was posted to Dutse.

The surge in the revenue collected in the year 1916/1917  was seen by the Colonial  Administration as the personal efforts of Ahmadu Gurara, and therefore directed the Native Authority  to reduce the status of Sarki Abdullahi 1 to a Village head, and appoint Gurara as the new District Head.

This arrangement  was contrary to the established tradition of Dutse-Kano relationship, and was resisted vehemently by the Dutse ruling Houses and the people of Dutse in general. He was refused  any cooperation and his administration was sabotaged at all levels.

Dan Lawan could not occupy the palace and therefore had to re-locate to Limawa  and administer the District from there.  In  one incident  in 1918, he visited the Dutse  prison  at Garu  the headquarters of the District Administration and was ambushed by  irate  youth mobilized by one of Sarki Abdullahi’s wives [Fulani].