Among them was Sir Stewart Symes, Director of Intelligence in the period between 1924 and July 1926, and Geoffrey Arthur, who took over as Governor-General between 1924 and July 1926. "Wells," according to the information available to us, was the first to refer to the expression "New Mahdiya," reinforcing his view that Sayyid Abd al-Rahman's Mahdiya was moderate in temperament compared to his father's rigid approach. Similarly, Arthur advised adopting a realistic, humane, and broad-minded policy towards the Mahdiya, contrary to the views of his advisors, which were characterized by harshness and stubbornness, devoid of naivety and short-sightedness. The two men rendered a great and valuable service to the Sayyid in his darkest hours. While Wells provided him with protection from accusation, Arthur granted him a knighthood in the British Empire. More importantly, Arthur visited him at his home in Gezira Aba on February 14, 1926. The support provided by these two men to the Sayyid cost them dearly, and for Arthur, it led to a tragic end to his career. It may be appropriate to mention here that Sayyid Abd al-Rahman, throughout his life, was loyal and generous to those British friends who showed him sympathy and support, especially Wells and Arthur. When Wells's situation deteriorated to its lowest point, Abd al-Rahman sent him friendly messages. This personal relationship continued after Wells retired from government service, as he made several visits to Khartoum to be a guest of the Sayyid at the Grand Hotel, which greatly affected his former colleagues. As for his dealings with Arthur, the Sayyid was lavish in his generosity. In 1957, he sent two large sums of money, one of which was a thousand pounds, to the former Governor-General, who was suffering from old age and illness. In appreciation, Arthur wrote from Britain, "The expenses of life here these days become enormous when the patient is costly. My pension is small, and I do not find it necessary to say that the additional gift is of great help and has provided me with comfort until the end of my days. I am now seventy-six years old." Even at this early stage of his career, during the 1920s, Sayyid Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi's growing influence was not confined to Sudan. He had followers in northern Nigeria who were a source of concern for the authorities there. The influence of the Mahdiya truly came into the spotlight in 1932, personified by Mallam Sa'id bin Hayatu, a descendant of the Fulani royal house of Sokoto and grandson of Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, founder of the Sokoto Empire. The Nigerian authorities accused Sa'id of acting under the direction of Sayyid Abd al-Rahman when he established the nucleus of the Mahdist call in Dambusa, in the Borno region. To support this claim, the authorities presented a letter from Sayyid Abd al-Rahman to Sa'id, who would succeed him in the West, in which he advised him that when the appointed day came, the rifles of the Christians would cease to fire. In addition,