ABDU GUSAU POLYTECHNIC TALATA MAFARA

SOME TOPICS IN CITIZEN EDUCATION

2022
CHAPTER ONE. COLONIALISM.

REASONS FOR COLONIALISM.

1. Economic reasons: by the late 19th century, the concern about sourcing raw materials for the
growing industries in Europe and the markets for their product became a serious issue I most
European states, thus the scramble for Africa ensued and led to eventual colonialism.
2. Religious reasons: the missionaries in European were determined to spread Christianity all
over the world. Therefore they came to Africa of that purpose. They informed and invited their
home countries for protection purpose.
3. Exploration reason: many European claimed that Africa was a dark continent, as such; there
was the need to come down to Africa to civilize the people of the continent
4. Slavery reason: in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, salve trade was very high. Laws were
passed to stop the trade, and movement was formed to stop it too. European countries thereby
decided to come down to Africa for effective stoppage of the trade.

WHAT IS INDIRECT RULE

Indirect rule may be defined as a British system of ruling her colonies with the use of local chiefs
or other appointed intermediaries and traditional laws and customs with British official merely
supervising the administration. Indirect rule was introduced in Nigeria by sir Lord Lugard,
referred to as the “father of the indirect rule” introduced the indirect rule system in Nigeria
around 1906 first in northern Nigeria when he was the High Commissioner of the Protectorate of
northern Nigeria. Lord Lugard who became the first governor general for Nigeria after the
northern and southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914, also introduced the system of
indirect rule to southern part of Nigeria.

ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF INDIRECT RULE

1. Indirect rule used the existing traditional system of administration.

2. it recognized the status of traditional rulers.
3. Traditional rulers served as the pivot of indirect rule.
4. Traditional laws and customs were used in the administration.
5. The indirect rule system was supervised by British officials.
6. British official did not exert their influence directly to the people but through the local
chiefs.

7. The system was meant to assist in the development of the traditional political institution for
effective administration.
8. They system did not disrupt the existing traditional system of administration and political
order.
9. It was not an expensive system of administration.
10. The native authority system was used.
11 Taxes were collected.
12 Native police system was introduced.
13. Officers chiefs were appointed where there were no traditional chiefs or rulers.
REASONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE.
1. Lack of personnel: lack of British personnel was one of the reasons that afforded Lord
Fredrick Lugard to introduce the system of indirect rule in Nigeria Lord Lugard who was the
British High Commissioner in Northern Nigeria at the time he introduced the system could not
get sufficient number of British staff for administering the vast region of Nigeria. According to
Ola Abiola, the reason was described as the ‘white man’s grave’ owing to its poor climate and
the pressure of deadly insects like mosquito and tsetse flies.
2. Inadequate fund: this lack of enough funds which forced Lugard to adopt the system of
indirect rule was aggravated by Britain’s reluctance to involve heavily in any financial
responsibility of its colonies.
3. Its success in other countries: Lugard thought it wise to use the system because of the
significant success the system recorded in countries like India, Uganda, etc where it was first
introduced.
4. To preserve tradition and customs: the system of indirect rule was established by Lord in order
to preserve the traditions and customs of the people of Nigeria. It was in a bid not to destroy the
cultural values and traditional system of the people of Nigeria that Lugard used the traditional
rulers. The British system of indirect rule in Nigeria, in the opinion of Lord Lugard will maintain
the cultural status quo.
5. To involves traditional rulers: the system of indirect rule was established because lord lugard
wanted to bring the traditional rulers into the art of governance. Lugard thought it wise that any
system of government that isolates the people being governed will not succeed.
6. Britain’s unwillingness to involve financially: Britain’s non readiness to involve heavily in
any financial responsibility in any of its colonies contributed to the introduction to the system of
indirect rule in Nigeria. British government knew it that come what may, that one day these
colonies will become independent like its former colonies of America and India.
7. Its cheapness: the system of indirect rule was adopted in Nigeria because, economically, it was
bit expensive. To employ and pay its personnel to run Nigeria as a whole could have been the
highest stage of financial extravaganza on the part of Britain.
8. Favorable political atmosphere: the political atmosphere in northern Nigeria at that period was
favorable for the introduction of the system. The method of traditional administration at that time
was very difficult for Britain to displace the Emirs from their position so abruptly. The Emirs
were respected by their people and the British did not want to attract the hatred of the people of
Northern Nigeria by destroying the premier position occupied by the Emirs.
9. Its beneficial effects: Lugard introduced the system with the hope that it will be beneficial to
both European and Africans. For instance, by using traditional rulers, Lugard viewed it as a way
of providing employment for them.
10. Language difficulties: the system of indirect rule was adopted in Nigeria by Lord Lugard in
order to reduce the problems posed by language, Lugard was aware that the people of Nigeria at
that time did not speak English nor understand English language, and therefore going through
traditional rulers to govern the people would reduce the language problems
11. Vast areas involved: the large areas of Nigeria especially the Northern Nigeria where the
system was first introduced contributed to the adoption of the system of indirect rule.
12. Lack of knowledge of the area involved: this and the fear of the unknown contributed
immensely to the introduction of the system of indirect rule.
13. Poor transport and communication system: lack of roads, airports, postal systems etc,
prevented Britain from adopting direct rule, instead they adopted for indirect rule.

THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

As stated earlier, the system of indirect rule was first introduced in Northern Nigeria
around 1906 by Lord Lugard when he was the High Commissioner of the protectorate of the
Northern Nigeria. The system was a huge success in Northern Nigeria mainly because of the
highly developed traditional system of administration of the areas. The emirs were made use of I
the administration including a new Amiral Muminin appointed by Lord Lugard himself.

FACTORS OR REASONS THAT LED TO THE SUCCESS OF INDIRECT

RULE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA.

1. Use of traditional administration. One of the factors that contributed to the success of indirect
rule in Northern Nigeria was the use of the existing traditional system of administration. Lord
Lugard recorded a huge success mainly because he used the highly developed traditional system
of administration that already existed in Northern Nigeria.
2. The autocratic nature of the Emirs: Another reason why the indirect rule succeeded in
Northern Nigeria was because Lugard made use of the Emirs who were at that time autocratic.
The emirs were very influential and had unlimited powers, to the extent that they could sentence
to death any of their subjects who disobeyed. The Emirs were respected and obeyed. These rare
qualities helped the system of indirect rule to fully succeed when it was introduced since it was a
continuity of the Emirs administration.
3. Religion: Islam was the dominant religion the people of Northern Nigeria practiced. Islam by
its nature is a conservative religion and as a result helped greatly to make the people of the area
to be more obedient. That created room for the success of the system of indirect rule.
4. The submissiveness of the people ; this made the people of Northern Nigeria to accept the
indirect rule wholeheartedly without question hence the success of the system of Indirect rule.
5 . Low level of education. Majority of the people of Northern Nigeria were relatively illiterates
by the time indirect rule was introduced.
6.Centrality of the administration: It was the centralized system of administration which had an
Emir at the head and surrounded by many powerful officials who contributed to the efficient
running of the government that the British saw and decided to continue with indirect rule.
7. Well organized system of taxation: A lot money was generated from this system of taxation,
which was used in the running of the government of the area since the British government was
not ready to involve itself in any heavy financial responsibility.
8. Non interference with the existing traditions: Indirect rule succeeded in Northern Nigeria
because it did not tamper with the existing religion, culture and customs of the people.
9. Absence of many whites. : Absence of many whites Europeans made it possible for the system
to be introduced without raising eyebrow and it thrived without attracting criticism.
10. Military threat. Emirs of Northern Nigeria accepted indirect rule because of fear of British
military reprisal if it was rejected.

THE SYSTE OF INDIRECT RULE IN EASTERN NIGERIA.

The system of IR succeeded in Northern Nigeria, met partial success in the west, the system
failed completely in Eastern Nigeria. The Igbo had no centralized traditional system of
administration like the Fulani emirate system. When IR was introduced to Eastern Nigeria there
was no real people of local influence and authority like the Emirs and Obas in the Northern and
Western Nigeria respectfully who could be used to carry out the system .In a bid to solve this
problem of single rulers, Lugard and his British cohorts without due regards and consideration to
the customs of the people that were recalcitrant made the mistake of appointing traditional rulers
called Warrant Chiefs. These people that were appointed as chiefs by the British without due
regards for their status and families they came from violently rejected. The use of these
unpopular chiefs and the system of taxation in an effort to raise fund for the prosecution of IR led
to among other disturbances led to the famous Aba Women riots of 1929.

REASONS THAT LED TO THE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT

RULE IN EASTERN NIGERIA.

1. Absence of traditional rulers: The first reason why it failed woefully in the East was the
absence of traditional rulers in many parts of the area. The absence of chiefs made the system
impracticable since the system made use of chiefs or other intermediaries.
2. Appointment of Warrant Chiefs: The British were forced by the absence of chiefs to appoint
pseudo chiefs called Warrant Chiefs. The so called chiefs were rejected out rightly because they
were appointed without considering their family background and their characters
3. The type of political administration practiced: The Igbo political system of administration was
highly decentralized and that contributed immensely to the failure of IR. This type of
administration did not give room for central decision making body.
4. Small size of the Igbo society: The units of Igbo society were too small to carry out the
functions of an emirate system.
5. Absence of a well organized system of taxation: The Igbo unlike the Hausa or Fulani were not
used to paying any form of tax. This made the generation of fund for the execution of the
impossible and as a result the system failed woefully. This lack of money was aggravated by the
refusal of the British government to involve in the heavy financial up keep of its colonies.
6. Non submissiveness of the people: The Igbo’s by nature were not submissive as their
counterparts in the north. This fact contributed to the abysmal failure of the system. This lack of
total submissiveness contributed to absence of chiefs, their decentralized system of
administration and the egalitarian nature of their society.
7. Religion: The Igbo were predominantly Christians and were not conservative. This contributed
to the failure of IR in the East.
8. Education: Education played a crucial role in the unmitigated failure to the system of IR in the
East .By the time the system of IR was introduced in the East, majority of the Igbo were highly
educated and knew their rights.

CHAPTER TWO.

NATIONALISM.

Nationalism can be defined as a desire by a group of people who share same race, culture,
language etc to form an independent government. Furthermore, Nationalism can be defined as
the reaction of the natives against foreign rule and domination. Nationalism is defined as a socio-
political phenomenon and a state of consciousnesses shared by a group of people who consider
themselves denied of governing themselves.
Nationalism came into existence as a result of political subjugation ,economic
exploitation ,social injustices ,cultural suppression and racism all those made Nigerians to react
by seeking political independence.

REASONS FOR THE RISE OF NATIONALISM

EXTERNAL REASONS.

1. The role and pressure by the Nigerian Student as in England and American under the tutelage
of the West African Students UNION ((WASU).They seek for political reforms, social equality
and self determination
2. The Pan African Movement which had blacks in the USA an Educated one in Europe seeks for
political reform and sanitizes their people everywhere to know the evils of the white man rule
3. The Communist propaganda that all nations have natural right to govern themselves.
4. The World War 1 and World War 11 afforded the Africans the opportunity to fight side by
side with Whiteman and came to realize that the Whiteman wasn’t superhuman and wasn’t
superior to him. The wars also made the Colonial powers exhausted and very weak militarily.

INTERNAL REASONS.

1. Economic exploitation and monopoly of trade by the Europeans.

2. Economic depression after the ww11 made the standard of living was low and it also created
scarcity of food.
3. The role of professionals stimulated Nationalism.
4. The role of newspapers like the West African PILOT

5 The formation of pressure groups that later became political parties such as the NNDP
(Nigeria Democratic Party), NYM (Nigeria Youth Movement, NPC, NCNC, NEPE and others.

CHAPTER THREE. CONSTITUTION AND CONSTITUIONALISM

Definition.

A constitution may be defined as the whole body of fundamental laws, customs, conventions,
principals and regulations according to which a particular government of a country or an
organization operates.
A constitution specifies the working of a government or organization, the functions of its
officials, the rights and duties of its citizens or embers. As a result of the complex nature of
modern day government, the use of a constitution in order to spell out the functions and
relationship among the organs of government has become very desideratum
FEATURES OF A CONSTITUTION.

1. A constitution is he whole body of fundamental laws, customs etc according to which a

particular government of a country or organization operates.
2 It has a preamble or an introduction which states the ideological stand of the constitution
3. The constitution states the type of system that will operate in a country.
4. It names the organs of government, their functions and their relations to one another.
5 A constitution of a country specifies the rights and duties of the citizens.
6 It may be found in one document but supplemented by organic laws.
7. It specifies the type and characteristics of government unitary, federal, presidential or cabinet
systems to be adopted.
8. It provides the procedure for the amendment of the constitution.
9. Constitution provides for revenue allocation formula
10. It states the tenure of office holders and their qualifications.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CONSTITUTION.

1. A constitution specifies the modus operandi of a government or an organization

2. It states the ideological direction of any government
3. A constitution performs the function of stating the type of party system that a country will
operate
4. It maintains political stability by specifying the mode of changing the government peacefully
and declaring any violet means like coup d; eta unconstitutional.
5. A constitution names the organs of government and specifies their functions and relations to
one another.
6. It stipulates the rights and duties of citizens
8. The constitution ensures that no organ of government should exceed the powers allocated to it
9. A constitution serves as a symbol of nationhood and sovereignty
10 to protect the rights and liberties of individuals in a country.
11. A constitution specifies the mode of seeing for justice when ones individual rights are
infringed upon.
12. A constitution stipulates the form of civil service whether independent or political
appointment that should be adopted in a country.
13. The constitution specifies rules under which people of a country are governed.
14. A constitution prevents leaders from becoming too powerful or dictatorial
SOURCES OF CONSTITUTION.

1. PAST EXPERIENCE: The political social, economic, geographical and historical

experience of a country serves as major source of its constitution.

2. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS: Historical documents includes such documents as

treaties, Bills, circulars, agreements signed very long time ago

3. ACTS OF PARLIAMENTS: These are bills passed into laws in the parliaments or
national assembly.

4. DECREES: Decrees are laws made by military governments in many countries where they
seized power and made such decrees through the promulgation of decrees to serve as
constitution.

5. INTELLECTUAL WORKS: The works or writings in form of books, papers, articles of

many intellectuals past and present such as Locke, Awolowo, Zik, Saadu Zungur, Herbart
Macaulay and Aminu Kano among many others are very useful for drafting of constitution

6. CUSTOMS AND NORMS. The usual and generally accepted behavior and ways of
living of a people serve as an important source of their constitution.

7. JUDICIAL PRECEDENTS: These are earlier and very important judgments passed and
decisions taken in higher courts like the Supreme Courts.

8. CONVENTIONS: These are precepts or rules and guides for behavior which were not
written down which people can show their disapproval when violated.

9. CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCES: Such constitutional conferences that were

held in London and West Africa before gaining independence served as one of the major source
for the drafting of their independence constitutions

10.INTERNATIONAL LAWS ;International laws such as the ones made by international

organizations like UN, International laws of the Seas, International Civil Aviation Convention
etc serves as sources of a constitution.

CONSTITUTIONALISM

The term constitutionalism means that the power of government should be defined and limited
by the dictates of the body the fundamental laws of the land known as constitution. That is to say
that the actions and activities of government and its officials should be in line with the provisions
of the constitution. The constitution therefore outlines the different organs of government, their
functions and their relationships to each other. The same constitution also specifies the rights and
obligations of the citizen.

IMPORTANCE OF CONSTITUTIONALISM

1. Equality before the law: It stresses that fact nobody is above the law irrespective of the
person’s position or wealth.
2. Limitation in the exercise of functions: This implies that the activities of those who govern
should not be absolute. There is a constitutional limitation in the exercise of their functions.
3. Fundamental Human Rights: Constitutionalism enhances the protection of the citizen’s
fundamental human rights.
4. Popular Sovereignty: Constitutionalism promotes the right of every adult to vote and be voted
for any political elections.
5. Judicial Independence: Constitutionalism implies that only the constitutional courts can
enforce the people’s rights like the high court’s and the supreme courts.

THE RULE OF LAW

Meaning. For a working definition. We may define the phrase Rule of Law as the absolute
supremacy or predominance of law over everybody, both the rulers and the ruled and all
decisions taken in a country. According to Dicey, a professor of law, who developed and
popularized the phrase Rule of Law in his book “Introduction To The Law Of The Constitution”
published in 1885,”those entrusted with the administration of a country, should rule or exercise
their authority in accordance with the established laws of the land, and such established law
should be regarded as supreme ”The phrase says that a government rules arbitrarily if it exercise
power without any regard to the established laws of the land.
That is the government should rule according to the provisions of the constitution and that the
government should be subjected to the law. The phrase has other phrases’ like, that no citizen
can be punished except as prescribed by law, which means that no one can be punished without
trial. That the law must be known to every citizen. The rule of law is fundamental to the principle
of separation of power which condemns the concentration of power in one authority thereby
leading to arbitrary rule
The rule of law is one of the basic fundamental principles of every constitution of the nations of
the world but with slight differences from one country to the other in the degree of its
application.

THE MAIN PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES OF THE RULE OF LAW.

Dicey propounded the following three principles or tenets of the rule of law.
1. Equality before the law. In Dicey’s view all men are equal before the laws of the land. This
means that no one is above the law and the law is no respecter of persons. The law therefore
should not be bent to favor any person whether rich or poor, young or old, king or servant,
literate or illiterate, etc, The principles therefore stats that all citizens of a country should enjoy
equal access to law facilities, equal right to fair hearing, legal advice in the court of law ,etc.
2 Impartiality. This principle assumes the notion of legality, which means due process of law in
dealing with offenders. That is to say, no one should be made to suffer any penalty or loss of
personal liberty or punished in any way unless found guilty of breaking the law of the land which
must however be established in the ordinary court. Even an accused person should be assumed
innocent until a court of law in the land finds him guilty and the court of law must be presided
over by a free, fair and impartial judge. Under this principle, no one should be arrested without
being told of his offence or legally detained for a long period without being charged to court.
Everyone is entitled to defend himself with the assistance of a lawyer and should not be tried in
special courts or tribunals but in the same courts others ere tried in. The main aim of the
principle of impartiality is to protect and ensure the liberties of the citizens.
3 The rights of the individual; the principle states that citizens of a country should enjoy certain
basic inalienable rights and liberties under the law, violation of which they have the right to seek
redress in the law court. These individual rights which are specified in most written constitutions,
commonly referred to as fundamental Human Rights together with their limits, as well as the
government protection will accord.

OTHER PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES OF THE RULES OF LAW

1. Absolute supremacy or predominance of law over everybody in the lad

2. There should be enough laws to guide the action of governments and citizens so that law
and order will be maintained in the society.
3. To avoid a breakdown of law and order and violation of law and for these laws to be
enforced, certain agents must be set up.
4. The government should rule in accordance with the laws of the land not arbitrarily.
5. The law should be made known to everybody by making it public and therefore, should
not keep in secrecy.
6. Laws should not be made to have retrospective effects or be back-dated.
7. There should be no government influence or censorship of the press.
8. There must be legal limitations of the action of the government.
9. These found guilty of offence by courts of law should be given the opportunity to appeal
against the judgment in higher courts.
10. Punishment meant for an offender must agree with the offence he committed as laid
down by the law.

FACTORS THAT CAN ENSURE OR AID THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION

OF THE RULE OF LAW

1. Public trials of the accused person’s not secret trials.

2. The press must be free not gagged.
3. Democratic political system in a country.
4. The judiciary must be independent and impartial.
5. Citizens should be granted the right to appeal against any injustice.
6. Accused persons should have access to lawyers to defend them and such lawyers should
have access to all relevant files or documents and information concerning their clients.
7. Adequate information should be made available about the existence of different laws
especially newly enacted ones.
8. To avoid tyranny, the principles of separation of powers and checks and balance should
be adopted in government.
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