In other words, the indirect rule is a system of administration in which the british colonial government made use of the paramount chiefs to govern the people of its colonies in accordance with their traditional political system, under the guidance and supervision of officials of the british government. The practice of indirect rule brought an end to this suspicion or brought it drastically down. Indirect rule is a system of government in which a central authority has power over a country or area, but the local government maintains some authority. Lugards success in northern nigeria has been attributed to his policy of indirect rule, which called for governing the protectorate through the rulers who had been defeated. Indirect rule in nigeria overview, reasons and results oldnaija. What are the factors that led to the adoption of indirect. Consider the differences in power between the two groups.
A unified local government system was established in northern nigeria before it was extended to southern nigeria with. Reasons for indirect rule pacification and indirect rule. Dec 01, 2019 last week i wrote many articles on indirect rule in nigeria. The president, elected to a fiveyear term by a joint session of the.
Indirect rule system in western eastern and northern. Definition of indirect rule indirect rule, also known as indirect control, can be defined as a system of administration used by the british colonial government to direct the affairs of nigeria, using existing local power structures and trade networks. Indirect rule was the system of government used by britain and french during the colonization of many african and asian countries. There were notable exceptions, especially in eastern nigeria, where the absence of. Lugard had witnesses the system of indirect rule in india and uganda since he served as a colonial officer. Nigeria was run by indirect rule according to reports from colonial administrators in nigeria because of a staff shortage, the cheapness of the administration system, and the sustainability of the administration system oyebade 2003, 65. The article concludes by discussing applications of the theory in a variety of additional settings. This will help you to overcome ignorance when it comes to indirect rule and find out more facts about this management system, precolonial. Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting indigenous power structures. Indirect rule on the other hand is a system of government used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting local power structures. Sir frederick lugard 1922 formally described the system of indirect rule during his tenure in northern nigeria, although indirect rule characterized earlier ruling arrangements, including the residency system in india. The british appointed local chiefs, but many thought this made them a form of satrap, were therefore unpopular and rejected by the people. Nationalism, indirect rule, internal colonialism, corsica, france. Why did the indirect rule work in northern nigeria and not.
Femi adegbulu, redeemers university, nigeria abstract much has been written about warrant chiefs and the nature of colonial administration in eastern nigeria. More so, it is argued that another reason why the colonial masters used indirect rule in nigeria was because of the failure of direct rule in many countries. Jan 24, 2019 because the eastern igbo political structure is a segmentary system of governance where there is hierarchy of power from the family to the age group and to special titleholders. What is indirect rule in terms of colonies, and the. Since the indirect rule through the warrant chief system did not even save the british from subsidizing colonial administration costs, nwabughuogu believes that if lack of finance was a major factor in shaping the british policy of running through chiefs, that policy could have been abandoned, at least, for southern nigeria. Indirect rule is a system of government used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting local power structures. Advantages and disadvantages of indirect rule west. What are the factors that led to the adoption of indirect rule in nigeria. Miles 1987 argues that, while the hausa chiefs in nigeria. Jul 03, 2011 the authors refer to this as an institutional theory of direct indirect rule. It is also argued that the british wanted to train africans and equip them with skills of leadership for eventual serf rule. Jan 18, 2018 why did britain adopt this policy of indirect rule. The people had different religions, different languages as well as sociopolitical systems.
Essentially, local government was to be left in the hands of the traditional chiefs, subject to the guidance of european officers. The indirect rule system was introduced to nigeria by lord frederick lugard, known as the father of indirect rule in nigeria. One of the disadvantages of indirect rule is that some of the african chiefs became authoritarian in their approach to local governance. Nwabughuogu outlines why the reasons that lead to indirect rule do not measure up. Following the success of indirect rule in places like ghana and other african countries, the colonial master thought that it will be wise to use indirect rule in nigeria too. Historical background of local government system in nigeria. Nigeria as a colony system subsequently institutionalized as indirect rule. As a matter of fact, the developed economies during the colonial rule, applied the factor of divide and rule in one way or the other. Indirect rule, as developed in northern nigeria was a practical means of administering a huge territory, with only limited manpower and cash.
Colonialism and colonial administrative system in africa. Criticism of indirect rule system the indirect rule system was not accepted by most nigerians for many reasons. The system was the only immediate means through which these different groups of peoples were saved from dictatorial systems of government. Educational policy in nigeria hauwa imam educational policy in nigeria from the colonial era to the postindependence period hauwa imam1 abstract. In such societies, there was british assiduity in trying to discover chiefs or invent them. The system of administration used by the british in northern nigeria was known. Native authorities and local government reforms in nigeria.
Nigeria and believed that, while the colonial government should. By this system, the daytoday government and administration of areas both small and large were left in the hands of traditional rulers. Direct rule is when an imperial or central power takes direct control over the legislature, executive and civil administration of an otherwise largely selfgoverning territory. Local emirs were rulers but real power stayed with the governor. Local government administration in nigeria and the. Direct rule is a system of governmental rule in which the central authority has power over the country. Indirect rule was a colonial administrative system employed by the british using african natives to administer their own affairs. As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, indirect rule appeared to become the preferred approach. According to frederick lugard, architect of the policy, indirect rule was cost effective because it reduced the number of european officials in the field. The constitutional framework of the system of indirect rule rested upon a number of ordinances.
Why indirect rule was successful in northern nigeria. A case for political decentralisation in nigeria a thesis submitted in fulfilment for the degree of. With the colonisation in the early part of the twentieth century, the british introduced a system based on indirect rule in the north of nigeria, leveraging the existing northern emir hierarchies. Reasons for indirect rule pacification and indirect rule in. A few years later, the colonial rule decided to introduce this system in the south as well. The demise of indirect rule in the emirates of northern nigeria. First, it tended to strengthen the powers of traditional rulers. In 1933, lord lugard described indirect rule and the role of education in it. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Warrant chiefs, african rulers propped up by the british, were not generally liked by the communities that they were selected to rule, as was the case in southern nigeria collins, and burns. Lugards work in nigeria has continued to inspire researches into the particular. Such a view implies that the system with which the british ruled southern nigeria in the prelugardian era was not one of indirect rule.
The warrant chief system, anchored on the colonial native court of. Indirect rule system indirect rule was an administrative system in which traditional rulers implemented the colonial policies for the aims of preserving of traditional political institutions and their adaptations under the direction of the british administration to the requirements of modern units of local government. Indirect rule is the system of government in which the traditional structures of the local people were employed in the administration of the british overseas territories in west africa. Because indirect colonial rule is a significant source of the elite control. The system of indirect rule aimed at eliminating much of the inevitable friction. Indirect rule was seen a solution to the problem of language barrier. In fact lucy mair even goes to the extent of maintaining that indirect rule was deliberately not introduced into the. Essay on the negative effects of indirect rule on africans. Ghana under british indirect rule the african perspective expert the european perspective expert indirect rule to control colonies maximizing trade income british influenced what was trade making trade safer historian the initial aim of british rule was to build influence in. Political structure as a legacy of indirect colonial rule munich.
Or state five reasons why indirect rule was unsuccessful in southern nigeria i southern nigeria lacked centralized administration which could be used to implement the indirect rule. The british system depended on the advisory relationship between the political o cer and the native authority, usually a chief. The practice of indirect rule ensured that some of the practices that the colonialists found to be inhuman and obnoxious were all abolished. Englands indirect rule in its african colonies aha. In west africa, lord lugard the high commissioner of northern nigeria protectorate introduced indirect rule firstly in northern nigeria. While the indirect rule is a simple system of colonial rule with the use of leaders as a ruling body and implement of. The first british governor in tanganyika who was known as sir donald cameroon initiated and introduced indirect rule in tanganyika. In northern nigeria, where there were stronglyestablished emirs, it was relatively easy to establish indirect rule, but in the regions east of the niger most societies had no system of indirect rule.
Because indirect rule utilized existing african rule, indirect rule was highly ineffective in colonies where there was no centralized system of authority. The british intention was purely to exploit colonies rather than invest in them through paying expensive administrators. In my last article, i explicitly explained what indirect is, and the reasons why indirect rule failed in eastern nigeria. We argue that indirect rule persisted in sierra leone because the postcolonial state was the. Nigeria was the home of the classic system of indirect rule which sir fredrick later lord lugard, the father of that system, stamped upon a society widely different in kind, size and culture. Indirect rule was a system where colonial powers used traditional rulers nchiefso. Advantages and disadvantages of indirect rule westafrican. Cultural division among the people of southern nigeria.
Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the british and french to control parts of their. In fact, the base of the indirect rule system which, persecuted the non muslim culture and helped the progress of islam was the work of lugard himself. Indirect rule was a system where colonial powers used traditional rulers chiefs as the local level of government, empowering them to tax, dispense law and maintain order. Educational policy in nigeria from the colonial era to the.
The africans viewed the british with so much suspicion. Contemplate the differences in the cultural values of the european and the colonized. Indirect rule is a system of government in which a central authority has power over a country or area. What is the difference between an indirect rule and direct rule. By this system, the daytoday government and administration of areas. The indirect rule system was introduced to nigeria by lord frederick lugard. Nigeria lugard and indirect rule flags, maps, economy. Indirect rule and state weakness in africa scholars at harvard. The main objective of this paper is to examine the nature and challenges of local government administration in nigeria using the localist theory as framework of analysis. For instance, the success of administration of colonial masters in nigeria, was largely due to indirect rule factor which made use of local emirs, obas and chiefs. In nigeria for instance, indirect rule caused a lot of problems before it finally succeeded in some part of the country. Indirect rule is when one country, lets say england, governs another country, let say nigeria, but the governed people in nigeria get to keep certain administration and legal powers. Britains colonial administrations and developments, 1861. Indirect rule, also known as indirect control, can be defined as a system of administration used by the british colonial government to direct the affairs of nigeria, using existing local power structures and trade networks.
After the british government assumed direct control of the royal niger companys territories, the northern areas were renamed the protectorate of northern nigeria, and the land in the niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the niger coast protectorate, which was renamed the protectorate of southern nigeria. The british appraoch was called indirect rule and was applied to all of nigeria including southeastern nigeria. Traditional chiefs figured prominently in the system of indirect rule adopted by british authorities to administer their colonies in africa. Despite the british succeeded to rule africans indirectly through their local rulers, they met a number of challenges, since british indirect rule introduced different policies and systems. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to british subjects in 1807. Why did the indirect rule fail in the eastern part of nigeria. The architect of the system, in west africa, was lord frederi. Slavery, for example, was banned in northern nigeria. In his book the role of propaganda in the development of indirect rule in nigeria, anthony i. With the imposition of this indirect rule, the igbo people fought against the rule on behalf of other parts of nigeria in which nnamdi azikwe was the spoke person in chief. There were notable exceptions, especially in eastern nigeria, where the absence of identifiable executive authority in most communities made.
Indirect rule in nigeria overview, reasons and results. Lugard, the conqueror of the emirates, to administer directly and had as its basis the secular ideology of a. Sir donald cameroon decided to introduce indirect rule in tanganyika due to the influence and motivation from governor lord fredrick lugard who succeeded to control nigeria through indirect rule so sir donald cameroon wanted to copy that system of indirect rule. Colonial nigeria was the era in the history of nigeria when the region of west africa was ruled by great britain in from the midnineteenth century until 1960, when nigeria achieved independence. General daumas, speaking to the legislative corps in algeria. Biafra, nigeria, the west and the world the colonial and precolonial eras in nigeria englands indirect rule in its african colonies. Why did britain adopt this policy of indirect rule.
There is a widened western educational gap between the north and south of nigeria with the predominantly muslim areas of the north lagging behind due to some. Native laws, for example islamic, were maintained in northern nigeria, with the exception of those considered barbaric. While the indirect rule is a simple system of colonial rule with the use of leaders as a ruling. Project muse an institutional theory of direct and indirect. Library of congress federal research division country profile. The problems of colonial governance in this period are striking. These dependencies were often called protectorates or trucial states. The search for the origins of indirect rule has become a staple of. International african institute middlebury college. Under the 1916 native authority ordinance, a chief or any other native was recognized by the government to maintain order and to appoint native police to assist in this purpose. Having done that, i will now disclose to you the reasons for indirect rule in nigeria. Indirect rule on the other hand is a system of government used by the british and french to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in africa and asia, through preexisting local.
British indirect rule and islam in northern nigeria 19001940. May 02, 2017 state five reasons why indirect rule was unsuccessful in southern nigeria i southern nigeria lacked centralized administration which could be used to implement the indirect rule ii african chiefs feared erosion and loss of the traditional authority iii the african elite resented british rule. The native authority na system was the first colonial system of local government administration whereby indirect rule and exploitation was the order of the day. Direct and indirect rule westafrican colonial administration. Empirical analyses of this hypothesis are applied to patterns of direct and indirect rule 1 during the age of imperialism and 2 across contemporary nationstates. Why indirect rule was successful in northern nigeria answers. What is the difference between an indirect rule and direct. The british system depended on the advisory relationship between the. In the north, appeals to islamic legitimacy upheld the rule of the emirs, so that nationalist sentiments there were decidedly antiwestern. This policy of preserving the old social system until.
Indirect rule system in western eastern and northern nigeria. Indirect rule french and british style this system of indirect rule was, with modifications, practised wherever possible in britains colonies in west africa and in most of her other african territories. Though fully elaborated in northern nigeria, the indirect rule system was extended to southern nigeria which was amalgamated with the north o n january 1914. Ghana under british indirect rule by michelle lee on prezi. Crockers belief that lugards system was the obvious, indeed the inevitable. International journal of social sciences, 42, 249267. If the emirs accepted british authority, abandoned the slave trade, and cooperated with british officials in modernizing their administrations, the colonial power was. By this system, the daytoday government and administration of areas both small and large were left in the hands of traditional rulers, who gained prestige and the stability and protection afforded by the pax britannica, at th.
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