Prior to his selection as Sultan, Tambari was the Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa; his selection as Sultan was influenced by the Lieutenant Governor, William Gowers and Webster, the British resident in Sokoto.
Tambari's major competitor was Hassan, Sarkin Barau of Dange who was eleven years older than Tambari[1] and who was the preferred choice of the Sokoto traditional council led by Waziri Maccido.
Tambari consolidated his hold by firing or asking disloyal officials to resign, the first major official to resign was Waziri Maccido who resigned in September 1925,[3] some other officials dismissed were Usman the Magajin Garin of Sokoto, the chief Alkali and Usman the majidadi.
Prominent among the children of Sultan Tambari was Sarkin Gobir Adiya.
[4] Up until July, 1930, Tambari's relationship with the British residents had been cordial,[5] but in July 1930, allegations of miscarriage of justice, issuing usurious loans to district heads and consultation with African traditional religion practitioners was levied against him.