Before the Macpherson's constitution of 1951, the North was governed by

Before the Macpherson's constitution of 1951, the North was governed by Emirs. Emirs were traditional rulers who held considerable power and influence over their respective regions in the North. They governed their territories through a system of local administration known as the Emirate system, which had been in place for centuries before the arrival of colonialism. The Emirs had their own court system, which operated independently of the British colonial administration, and they also played a key role in the collection of taxes and maintenance of law and order in their domains. The Emirate system was largely responsible for the maintenance of peace and stability in the North prior to the adoption of the Macpherson's constitution.