THE PATTERN OF INTER GROUP RELATIONSHIP AMONG STATES AND PEOPLES OF
PER-COLONIAL NIGERIA CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF GEOGRAPHICAL, CULTURAL
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
The critical
analysis of the above
assertion that the
pattern of inter group
relationship among states and peoples of pre-colonial Nigeria can
be understood in terms of
geographical, cultural economic and political differences can be discussed one
after the other or in sequence with a view of this introductory note
Pre- colonial political system or inter group
relationship among states and peoples of pre colonial Nigeria otherwise refers
to as systems of government established and made use of by African societies
before the ardent of colonialism. Generally the different
ethnic nationalities of Africa had different
forms of government , cultural difference, ecological, economics and
political different basically, these
forms are categorized by the following
a.
Those whose power
was not concentrated in any individual but in which the groups governed
themselves like small republics.
b.
Those based on
rule by strongmen in which case here were elements of power concentration in
individuals or ruling groups.
c.
Mixture of
chiefdoms and republican system where
powers were sometimes concentrated and other times dispersed
they were systems that were constantly
changing.
Inter-Group Relationship Among Igbo Per Colonial
Nigeria As Regard To Geographical, Economical, Ecological Cultural And
Political Are Illustrated As Follows
The Igbo occupy the east and west of the lower
Niger predominantly, the Igbos are found
in Abia, Anambra Ebonyi , Enugu and Imo states. The can also be found in parts
of delta, cross river and rivers states.
Government in pre-colonial Igbo land was an attempt at direct democracy.
It involved participation of all, male adults in the affairs of the society/
village. Leadership was provided by all these who
distinguished themselves in their choosen areas of enderours. By so
doing the system can be said to be
achievement oriented. The Igbo are
classified among states or
accephalous societies in that there was
diffusion of powers among different persons
or groups. The basic political /
social unit is Igbo land was Umunna
which comprised group of families that
traces their descent to a common ancestor.
The
eldest direct descendant was the okpara
who was in charged of the family
as such, the intermediary between the living and the dead. He also
carried out functions that boarder on
inter-family relations, was the religious leader just as he performed judicial and economic roles.
The second political unit was the council of orders
that normally comprised the Okparas from different families. It was the
repsonsiblity of the councils of elders to settle disputes between and among
lineages in practice, the Okparas who were heads of their
resections families and who in turn
comprised the council of elders, were
mainly the eldest and often times the oldes tin their families,
and because of the roles they played.
From the poltical point of view, the village was the
largest unit of govnerment. It
strengtherned participation in decision making and decisions taken had
to be unanimous, thus ensuring govnerment by
consents
Because of the village assembly usually had their
meetings in places which both served as market place of worship and at the same time recreational avenues and because such meetings usually took palce under big protective trees, the
pre colonial Igbos are said to have practiced tree shade democracy. In
Igbo land age grade system was dominant and each has definite role to play
Igbo believed and relied much on oracles which
provided spiritual staff action and plays a vital roles in political, social
and economic activities
Therefore when compare to the culture of other ethnic
groups in Nigeria, the Igbo was the most egalitarian, provided opportunities
for citizens to achieve success as birth and old age were considered
insufficient factors for high status.
INTER
GROUP RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE NORTHERN PRE COLONIAL NIGERIA AS REGARD TO
POLITICAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMICAL AND ECONOMICALLY ARE ILLUSTRATED AS FOLLOWS
Pre- colonial
administration in the northern part of Nigeria was characterized by emirate
system. The emirate system was the
creation of Utman Dan Fodio following
his successful exaction of the jihad.
With the success came into existence the emporia which Uthman Dan Fodio divided into two sections,
the east and the west, the east had its
headquarters in Sokoto while the west
has its won headquarters in Gwandu. Each of the emirates waas under an
emir who in term appointed other subordinate emirs within his sphere of
jurisdiction.
A local emir administered his emirate in line with
Islamic principles and laws, could raise taxes, make laws and extract obedience
and compliance from his subordinates.
POLITICAL SYSTEM OF EMIRATES
Each emirates was composed of districts. The
Hakinis who where appointed to be
in charge of the districts in turn
appointed some village headmen to assist
in the collection of taxes and maintain
law and order, it was the “Haraji” (land
tax ) and the “Jugh(cattle tax ) collected by the Hakinis and village heads that was used in
running the system and it was upon part of these collections that the Hakimis and the
village head depended.
LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS
The Sahara or Islamic law was supreme and were
believed to be ordained by Allah.