LIST OF REASONS

The success of indirect rule in Northern Nigeria is a story of how colonial strategy intertwined with deeply entrenched indigenous institutions, creating a hybrid system of governance that not only sustained colonial control but also resonated with local customs and political traditions. When Lord Frederick Lugard introduced indirect rule between 1900 and 1906, he was not merely exporting a foreign model of administration; he was capitalizing on an existing sociopolitical structure that was already firmly established in the region. In the traditional societies of Northern Nigeria , power was centralized in the hands of native rulers whose legitimacy was derived from long-standing customs, rituals, and historical continuity. These rulers, known as Emirs or Sultans, were not appointed by an external authority but were traditionally installed by the people themselves. Their enstoolment or installation followed customs that were deeply respected and widely recognized across various commun...