[3] Prior to the Fulani jihad, Gidado, his father and uncle were with Uthman Dan Fodio in Degel.
[4] In his journey, he met all the Fulani leaders and his knowledge of Bornu later made him a good choice to negotiate a truce with El Kanemi.
He was also asked to command of a joint army when El Kanemi was threatening eastern Kano.
During expeditions, he was known to be by the side of Bello, however, he was less involved in writing the Sultan's correspondence as future viziers became known.
When Bello died, Gidado gradually retired because relations between him and Abu Bakr Atiku, the new Sultan were not in good terms.