NAME OF TEACHER: AMIDA W.

’G
DATE: 03/04/2020
CLASS: SS2 SUBJECT: Government
TOPIC: Pre-Colonial Political Systems in Nigeria
SUB-TOPIC: Hausa/Fulani And Igbo Pre-Colonial Administration
CONTENT
The origin of a harmonized pre-colonial political system of the Hausa/Fulani society started in 1804
when Usman Dan Fodio and his fourteen flag bearers conquered all the fourteen Hausa States. Sokoto
and Gwandu were made the headquarters for all the Emirates.
STRUCTURE OF THE HAUSA/FULANI POLITICAL SYSTEM
A. EMIR
FUNCTIONS OF THE EMIR
i. He performed ceremonial function.
ii. He organized his people for communal works.
iii. The Emir made laws over the areas under his jurisdiction.
iv. He maintained a strong standing army.
v. He imposed and collected taxes like Kharaji, Jangali, etc.
vi. He performed spiritual functions as the spiritual leader of the Emirate.
vii. He honoured brave warriors and conferred traditional titles on notable citizens.
viii. He presided over the Emir’s court as a judge.
ix. He appointed other officials in the Emirate like Madawaki, Waziri, Mogaji/Maaji, etc.
x. He acted as a link between his people and other communities.
xi. He maintained law and order within his Emirate through the local policemen.
xii. He organized his people for the defence of the Emirate through Madawaki, the
commander of the calvary.
xiii. He shared war booties.
xiv. He preserved the culture and tradition of the people. (SSCE 2013 No: 6/ 2004 No: 7)
B. EMIR-IN-COUNCIL (EMIR’S ADVISERS)
i. It advised the Emir.
ii. It acted as an intermediary between the Emir and his subjects.
iii. The council assisted in the appointment of lesser chiefs.
iv. It performed executive functions.
v. It preserved the culture of the people.
C. THE DISTRICT HEAD (HAKIMI)
i. He maintained law and order.
ii. He educated the people politically.
iii. He controls the village heads.
iv. He organized communal work.
v. He collected taxes and other levies.

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D. THE ALKALI/ WARD HEADS
i. He presided over the Alkali courts.
ii. He interpreted the Islamic law and punished law defaulters.
iii. They maintained law and order in their areas.
iv. They settled minor disputes.
E. OFFICIALS OF THE EMIRATE
i. WAZIRI: He was the head of all the officials. He was also a senior administrative adviser and the
prime minister.
ii. MADAWAKI: He was the commander of the army.
iii. GALADIMA: He was in charge of the capital.
iv. DOGARI: He was the head of the police.
v. MAAJI: He was in charge of the treasury.
vi. SARKIN RUWA: He was the officer in charge of fishing.
vii. SARKIN FADA: He was the head of the palace workers.
viii. SARKIN PAWA: He was the officer in charge of the butchers.
ix. YARI: He was the officer in charge of the prisons.
FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM
i. It was hierarchical and centralized.
ii. The judiciary was headed by the Alkali who adjudicated according to the sharia law.
iii. The people paid annual tributes and taxes to the Emir.
iv. The Emir ruled for life.
v. Each emirate had a standing army.
IGBO PRE-COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION
The Igbo political system may be seen as a fragmented or acephalous political system. They had no
centralized system of administration. They adopted ‘village democracy’.
STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF IGBO POLITICAL SYSTEM
A. VILLAGE ASSEMBLY
i. It was composed of all male adult in the village.
ii. It made laws for the village.
iii. It executed all the village laws.
iv. It decided both civil and criminal offences.
B. COUNCIL OF ELDERS/ OFO TITLE HOLDERS
i. This council is also known as Ofo title holders which comprised of the family heads.
ii. It performed legislative, executive and judicial functions.
iii. It protected the culture of the people.
iv. The head was referred to as Okpara.

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 C. THE AGE GRADES
i. Age grades helped to defend their communities against both internal and external
attacks.
ii. They carried out social, civil and communal works e.g. construction of roads, bridges and
markets, clearing of paths.
iii. They performed police duties in maintaining and enforcing law and order.
iv. They performed socializing functions.
v. They checked wrong use of powers by the paramount chiefs and council of elders.
vi. They helped in the execution of policies and decisions made in the community.
vii. They performed ceremonial and cultural functions during important occasions in the
community.
viii. They were involved in the administration of the village. (SSCE 2002 No: 6)
D. THE TITLED MEN (OZO TITLE HOLDERS)
i. They took part in law making.
ii. They settled disputes.
FEATURES OF THE IGBO PRE-COLONIAL POLITICAL SYSTEM
i. The family heads. They played important roles in the administration of the village.
ii. It was a decentralized administration.
iii. Title holders (Ozo title) played significant role in the traditional political system.
iv. Existence of village assembly (Oha-na-eze/ Umunna).
v. Decisions are reached by consensus.
vi. The village was the highest units of administration.
vii. There was the existence of council of elders (Ama-ala) presided over by the eldest son in
the village.
viii. Succession to leadership, coming into prominence was based on personal achievement.
ix. Significant position of age grades.
x. Market square served as the village assembly chambers.
xi. The village priest/diviner wielded great deal of religious and judicial powers.
xii. Political significance of deities in providing bonds of unity.
xiii. New yam festival was religiously marked, honoured and celebrated annually.
xiv. The women (Umuada) composed of the first daughters of each family, constituted a
socio-political group.
xv. Banishment from the village/ escort into the evil forest was the maximum judicial
punishment. (SSCE 2012 No: 6)
ASSIGNMENT: How did the people of any one British West African territory govern themselves before
the advent of colonial rule?