Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardIndirect Rule System in Western and Eastern Nigeria

Which institutional distortion introduced by the British colonial administration in the Western Provinces undermined the pre-colonial Yoruba system of checks and balances and provoked widespread political resistance?

  1. Designating the Oba as the Sole Native Authority with autocratic executive and judicial powersAnswer
  2. B
    Replacing hereditary royal lineages with educated elite appointees functioning as Warrant Chiefs
  3. C
    Mandating Christian conversion and missionary schooling for all traditional council titleholders
  4. D
    Transferring supreme chieftaincy selection authority directly to the British Privy Council

Answer

Designating the Oba as the Sole Native Authority with autocratic executive and judicial powers
The correct response highlights how the British modified traditional Yoruba governance. By bestowing 'Sole Native Authority' status on the Oba, colonial rule freed traditional rulers from their customary constitutional checks, such as council oversight and threat of deposition, causing severe popular friction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze pre-colonial Yoruba political organization
Pre-colonial Yoruba governance relied on balanced constitutional monarchies where executive authority of the Oba was limited by councils of chiefs (such as the Oyomesi in Oyo) and kingmakers.
Understanding pre-existing checks and balances is essential to evaluate colonial disruptions.
2
Identify the colonial administrative change under Indirect Rule in Western Nigeria
The British established the 'Sole Native Authority' policy, concentrating sole executive, tax enforcement, and judicial powers in the Oba.
This policy disrupted the traditional balance of power by rendering the Oba responsible to British officials rather than subject to traditional impeachment mechanisms.
3
Evaluate the political consequences of this institutional reform
The elevation of the Oba into an autocratic ruler removed traditional popular controls, sparking civil unrest such as the Iseyin-Okeiho Uprising and the Adubi War.
Institutional distortion was the root cause of anti-colonial resistance in the region.

Key Concept

Sole Native Authority System in Western Nigeria
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Indirect Rule System in Western and Eastern Nigeria