Why was the policy of indirect rule criticized?

Explanation. Reason why Indirect Rule System was criticized by the Nationalists: (i) Alien system of administration: The colonial system of administration was different from the traditional system obtained in the southern part of the country.

What were the problems with indirect rule?

Chiefs became despotic

One of the disadvantages of Indirect Rule is that some of the African chiefs became authoritarian in their approach to local governance. This was because the colonial masters had bestowed on them more powers than would otherwise have been accorded them under their tradition.

What are the disadvantages of indirect rule?

Disadvantages of Indirect Rule System

(i) Indirect rule excluded educated elites from colonial administration. (ii) It increased the powers of traditional rulers without regards to in built traditional checks and balances. (iii) It imposed warrant chiefs, taxation where there was none.

Why did indirect rule failed in the West?

Indirect rule in the West was not successful because of the following: There was no centralised administration like in the North. The imposition of tax led to riots in the Isieyin and Ikare. Early emergence of educated elite who strongly criticised the indirect rule.

Why did the indirect rule fail in the South?

Southern Nigeria did not have centralized indigenous system of government that was necessary for the application of indirect rule. Lack of homogeneity in the South as there were many ethnic groups, languages & customs to be understood.

Why the British Used Indirect Rule to Govern Nigeria

Why did the indirect rule fail?

Decentralized nature of government:

One of the major reasons why indirect rule failed in the the east was because of the decentralized system of government in the east. Apparently, the east was made up of majorly Igbo, and the precolonial political system of the igbos was democratic in nature.

Why did the indirect rule system fail?

REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF INDIRECT RULE SYSTEM IN THE EAST

The absence of a well-established system of leadership in the land. The absence of a centralized system of administration. The alienation of the elites in Igbo land. The absence of an efficient taxation method.

Why did the educated elite criticize the policy of indirect rule?

Exclusion of the educated elite

Probably the major reason why the educated elite opposed Indirect Rule was their own exclusion from taking part in the colonial administration of the time. This pitched the educated elite against the chiefs in what is described as divide and rule tactic.

What are the disadvantages of direct rule?

What are the failures of indirect rule in Nigeria?

DEMERITS OF INDIRECT RULE

The system alienated the educated elites. Most of the traditional rulers were involved in evil practices and the system could not prosecute them. There were bribery and corruption because of the poor condition of service for the native rulers. The system encouraged tribalism and sectionalism.

What were the good and bad features of indirect rule?

Good features: -It did not disrupt local customs and institutions. Bad features: -It was basically a fraud because British administrators made all major decisions.

Why do you think indirect rule impacted local culture less?

Under indirect rule, local rulers were allowed to keep their authority and status in a new colonial setting. This made access to the region's natural resources easier. Indirect rule was cheaper because fewer officials had to be trained. It also affected local culture less.

Was indirect rule successful?

Indirect rule succeeded in northern Nigeria because there was already in existence a native judicial system. The Emirs in northern Nigeria operated a court system where criminals were tried and if found guilty, convicted. This was the very system Lord Lugard adopted and reformed.

How did the indirect rule affect people?

The European ruling classes also often chose local leaders with similar traits to their own, despite these traits not being suited to native leadership. Many were conservative elders, and thus indirect rule fostered a conservative outlook among the indigenous population and marginalised the young intelligentsia.

Why was indirect rule not successful in southern Nigeria?

Presence of educated elite in southern Nigeria

These educated elite, some of whom were lawyers and journalists, were British-trained. They opposed the policies of the British if it was found to be detrimental to the interest of the local people. That is why the indirect rule did not succeed in southern Nigeria.

What were the effects of the indirect rule system in West Africa?

The greatest fault of the Indirect Rule system, however, was its complete exclusion of the West African educated elite from local government: the educated elite were excluded from both Native Administration and colonial government, and thus became transformed into an alienated class.

What are the disadvantages of indirect democracy?

What is indirect rule system?

What is indirect rule? It is a system of administration used by the British colonial government to govern the people through the use of traditional rulers and traditional political institutions.

What are the reasons for indirect rule?

Apparently, the core reason for indirect rule in Nigeria was because of the cheap nature of the system. Since indirect rule used the local authorities, the colonial masters didn't spend too much money on the administration.

What is indirect rule and its features?

Indirect rule is the system of government in which a colonial power makes use of the traditional institutions of the local people in the administration of a territory.

Why was indirect rule adopted in British West Africa?

The average British saw the colonies as a harsh environment where they could die of malaria or other diseases so they were unwilling to come and work there. This created the shortage of critical personnel in the colonies. The British were therefore forced to use local people, leading to the adoption of Indirect Rule.

What was the difference between direct and indirect rule during imperialism?

Defining Direct and Indirect Rule

Mamdani (1996) characterizes this difference in terms of the relationship of individuals to the colonial state: Those under direct rule relate to the state as citizens, whereas those under indirect rule are subjects under hierarchies of power.

Why did indirect control of Nigeria not work?

The French preferred direct control while the British were more indirect. Why did indirect control of Nigeria not work? What major problems did colonialism bring? - missionaries and British racism was destroying the traditional Indian lifestyle.

Why was indirect rule partial successful in Western Nigeria?

Absence Of Highly Centralised Administration: The Yorubas unlike the Hausa/Fulanis , did not have highly Centralised system of administration , hence, the partial success of the system of indirect rule of lord lugard.

What was the purpose of the British policy of indirect rule?

Indirect rule was the plan to use existing tribal structures and traditions as conduits for establishing rules and regulations while English officials worked behind the scenes and could exercise a veto power.