JAMB Government Past Questions & Answers - Page 125

Indirect rule encouraged the rise of nationalism.

The colonial policy of indirect rule system of government excluded the educated elite from governance. This then made the spirit of nationalism to develop earlier and more rapidly in the British Colonies.

The Igbo society was the one which was described as Acephalous.

It was a typical example of a non-centralized or acephalous society before the coming of European political system in Nigeria. It had no single centralized authority as was the case with the Hausa/Fulani or Yoruba.

The Igbos maintained an egalitarian as well as democratic society. Every adult belonged to the Amala meeting where everybody expressed his views or opinion.

Waziri was the next in command to the Sultan under the pre-colonial Sokoto Caliphate system. He was the Emir. He performed the duties of the modern day Prime Minister in a cabinet system of government. He settled inter-emirate disputes.

The Yoruba traditional system of government was monarchical. The political system was confederation of monarchies.

In pre-colonial Igboland, autocratic rule was made difficult by the absence of a centralized system of authority.

The Igbos were Republican by nature. They maintained a decentralized and acephalous society. It was highly democratic and egalitarian. Some traditional institutions were recognized specially in the administration of Igbo Society and they were as follows:

1. Village Assembly

2. Council of Elders

3. Age Grades

4. Ozo Titled Holders

5. Priest of Deities

6. Masquerades

7. Cult

8. Umuada, etc.

All these made the autocratic system of government to be very difficult in Igboland.