Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 2

Term: 2^nd Term

Week: 7

Class: Senior Secondary School 2

Age: 16 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Indirect rule in Eastern Nigeria

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Discuss indirect rule in Eastern Nigeria
2. Give reasons for the failure of indirect rule in Eastern Nigeria
3. Discuss the Aba women’s riot and what caused it

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

INDIRECT RULE IN EASTERN NIGERIA

Indirect Rule System In The Eastern Part Of Nigeria

The indirect rule system succeeded in the north met partial success in the west and failed completely in the eastern Nigeria. This was because the easterners never developed monarchies and the people appointed by Luggard as warrant chiefs were rejected. Also, the system of taxation in an effort to raise funds to sustain the indirect rule led to series of disturbances like the famous aba women riot of 1929.

Reasons For the Failure Of Indirect Rule System In Eastern Nigeria

1. Absence of traditional rulers: the Igbos never developed a monarchial system. The absence of chiefs made the system impracticable as the people they imposed were rejected by the people.
2. Appointment of warrant chiefs: the British were forced to appoint warrant chiefs, not minding their characters and family background. They were out rightly rejected by the people and this was a cause of the 1929 Aba women’s riot.
3. The type of political administration practiced: the Igbo political system of administration was decentralized without a central authority and absence decision-making body. This led to the failure of indirect rule system.
4. Absence of a system of taxation: the Igbo unlike the Hausa did not pay tax and this made the system to fail woefully as there was no generation of funds. To make matter worse, the British government refused to get involved financially.
5. Religion: The Igbos were mainly Christians and they were not conservative and submissive like the northerners. Their lack of submissiveness was caused by absence of chiefs and their decentralized system.
6. Education: during this period, majority of the Igbos were educated and this put them in the position to protest against the system.
7. Boycott of the educated elites: the British preferred half-educated people or illiterates as warrant chiefs. The educated ones therefore rejected the system.

Aba Women’s Riots and Causes of The Riots

The demonstration by some women in some parts of the Eastern region against some obnoxious actions and policies of the British imperialists is what is today referred to as the Aba Women’s riot of 1929. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when one warrant chief, Chief Okugo of Oloko near Aba started assessing the taxable wealth of the inhabitants of the village, including women in preparation for them to pay taxes. The demonstration started at aba and spread to other parts of the Eastern region. The situation was brought under control through the use of fire power where several women were dead and many wounded.

Causes of the riot include

1. Appointment of the warrant chief
2. Introduction of direct taxation
3. Fear of women being taxed
4. Autocratic rule and European monopoly of trade
5. Trade depression

EVALUATION:    1. Discuss indirect rule in Eastern Nigeria

2. Give reasons for the failure of indirect rule in Eastern Nigeria
3. Discuss the Aba women’s riot and its causes

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively