leaders be western educated set the stage for the transition to their subsequent roles. The first generation of northern civil servants (i.e. those born in the decade from about 1910–1920: Tafawa Balewa, Yahya Madawaki, Isa Kaita, Abubakar Imam) tended to be cohorts from Katsina College, and had good personal relationships with their colleagues (including Ahmadu Bello) who had gone into political life. The second generation of northern civil servants (i.e. those born from 1920 to 1930, and reaching senior status in the service during the transition to independence such as – Mohammed Bello, Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, Hassan Katsina) tended to have familial connections and were also part of the Katsina-Kaduna-Zaria education axis, they had close working relations with their "seniors" (the first generation) in the civil service and in the political realm. The third generation of northern civil servants (i.e. those born from 1930 to 1940 and entering the senior service after independence) tended to have overseas educational experience, and there was often a sharp difference in perspective from those in the first and second generations. This generation of Northerners went on to form the core of the Kaduna Mafia. Origins The origins of the Kaduna mafia revolves around the fall of the First Republic. The assassination of Ahmadu Bello and other northern leaders prodded a group of young northerners to rally around and oppose the military government of General Aguiyi Ironsi. This group, a diverse mixture of aristocrats and civil servants who were predominantly Muslim and based in Kaduna. It is important to note that a dichotomy exists between the traditional ruling establishment and the mafia, despite an interconnection. This group was educated mostly in the United Kingdom, and had connections with the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. They were known for their intelligence, commitment to the traditional values and socio-political interests of Northern Nigeria and their internal camaraderie. Following the rise of the Second Republic members became involved in varied aspects of the Nigerian nation, they were bank directors, cabinet members, military colonels and owners of business; their main differentiating symbol metamorphosed into the prominence of economic interest as a driving factor in their activities. Military era The group supposedly achieved most success during the military regime of General Obasanjo, where many of its members were appointed to key positions of power and used its alliance to obtain patronage and disburse favour to friends and associates. Democratic era