though not the oldest member, adama was one of the more zealous about usman's ideas. usman thus presented him with a command that would change his life dramatically. the shehu gave adama his blessing and presented him with a flag, the symbol of command in usman's army. the shehu then charged adama to carry the jihad into fumbina and from the nile to the bight of biafra. adama also received the power to distribute flags of command to others, thus establishing more centres of fulani islam and spreading the war to farther reaches.