Abdullahi was assigned governorship of Ogaden by Iyasu V in 1914.[7] Iyasu used Abdullahi to interact with Dervish leader Mohammed Hassan, which would lead to an alliance between the Dervish and Ethiopian Empire. Dervish State at the time had revolted on the British and this concerned UK about the role Abdullahi was playing. British officer Charles Doughty-Wylie claimed Iyasu's appointment of Abdullahi was signs the Ethiopian government was shifting towards an anti British policy.[2] Abdullahi was also accused of being an international pan Islamic conspirator against the British empire, evidenced by his attempts to reach out to the Emir of Afghanistan.