Politically, Nigeria was separated with Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani and Igbo practicing different mode of administration. For instance, Yoruba is a tribe that was practicing democracy because checks and balances existed in there governance whereby the Ogboni society has the right to check the activities of Oyo mesi and Oyo mesi check activities of Alaafin, the head of state. The leader of Oyo mesi who was Bashorun, was the Prime Minister at that period. Alaafin only came out 3times a year that was the period of festival and Aremo who was the second in command couldn't succeed Alaafin. The political affairs was democratic to the extent that if Alaafin misused power would be asked to commit suicide which served as judgement for him and others.
Igbo system was acephalous in nature whereby every citizens were being carried along in the state administration and that made it a direct democracy. The Ofo were the head of each family in Igbo, whereby the head of Ofo is called Okpara who served as leader in decision making. Ozo title were the wealthy men in the society and different age grade was formed and performed different functions. We have junior, senior and elders. They were to clear and sweep market square, safeguard the community and performed judiciary role in the community.
However, economic aspects, in the Hausa/Fulani administration. They had the mode of buying and selling of goods and services whereby big market place was established and tax which served as a major source of revenue had to pay on cow known as jangali and other form of taxes. Unitary system applicable in the area where the Emir would devolute power for appointed chiefs would perform in line with what Emir stated for them. Alkali in charge of court case but big cases the Emir verdicate them himself. Sharia laws served as the constitution during the period which was unwritten and strictly adhere to unlike present one that's documented and hardly abide.
The means of exchange was trade by barter before moving to coweries as a mode of exchange. Nupe, Benin, Dahomey were all part of Yoruba and they all paid homage and tribute to Alaafin as revenue.
Education aspect was non formal education and vocational training in particular. Every family has there own profession. It might be goldsmith, farmer, and hunting. There's no way you would have the knowledge of one profession in the past. Nothing like lacks of job as it happens these days. Every children would be equipped and wouldn't be jobless.
Health aspect was good enough then. We had physician, herberlist and native doctors. They didn't have laboratories but they took care of sicklers without much problem. Even in this present world upon having knowledge of whiteman health wise we are still going to native doctor to make consultation on problem facing us. Physician and herbalist prepare herbs for us to use when we use medicine and no charges. So, we can say the coming of whiteman led us to become developing countries.
Militarily we were unique. In Yoruba region, they had there own standing army led by Are ona kankanfo and at district was Balogun with well equipped machineries. Although we cracked before we shot but we developed technologically in that aspect. The issue of Boko Haram stuff, we all heard about what vigilante and hunters made in killing them in the northern part of the country.
Culturally we are unique. Mode of dressing was decency and modest. When Nigeria players went for Russia World Cup tournament, we were the only country that failed to wear coat and was given prize. So why can't we be wearing our own materials to work. Why can't we improve our cultures.
In the past, we used to engage in moonlight play at night, like telling stories and playing together like brothers and sisters from different families. Such can't happen now again because coming of Whiteman has erased the love and unity binding us together. We were running extended family in the past but now we are running nuclear family. Two brothers are fighting each other saying, won sera won. Which shouldn't be so. The coming of these people destabilize everything about us in Africa.
Inconclusion, the coming of whiteman to Africa is a course for us because it removed many things from us and gave us otherwise. If they didn't come, we would have developed economically, politically, socially, militarily and health wisely. The best is to start from the beginning.
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