PRE- COLONIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AMONG THE IGBO
Unlike the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba, the Igbo did not have a centralised political administration. There were no influential rulers among the Igbo. The Igbo political system was Republican. The principle of democracy governed the entire political activities within the system.
There were principle of equality also individuals and groups participated equally in the process of government. It was a democratic principle of village republic where all adults were politically equal. It was an example of Segmentary or Fragmented system.
# STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE IGBO POLITICAL SYSTEM.
The political unit among the Igbo was the family. Each family had one of their member as the head. The family head ruled the family and paid tribute to their departed ancestors whom they regarded as the guardians of the family.
The various family heads constituted the council of elders in the village. Each village was a sovereign entity administered like a republic.
The legislative, executive and judicial functions of government were performed by many institutions in the village.
There were some families who traced their origin the founder of the village. Such families were regarded as senior families. The oldest man in the senior families was recognized as the head of the elders and was called OKPARA.
# LEGISLATIVE ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS
The precolonial Igbo political system existed without any formal organ for law making. Instead, various bodies and persons made laws for the governance of the villages. These bodies and persons were mainly the council of elders, the village assembly,age grades , and special priests or gods and goddesses.
THE COUNCIL OF ELDERS
The council of elders ( Ndichie) was drawn from different family heads and was precided over by the OKPARA, the oldest man in the village. The council of elders deliberated on issues/laws relating to the customs and traditions of the people and also settled dispute involving different families over land , marriages etc
However, the council lacked the necessary authority to adjudicate or make laws alone on sensitive issues such as declaration of war,and maintenance of law and order within the towns and villages. Such issues were referred to the village assembly for final determination or approval.
THE VILLAGE ASSEMBLY
The village assembly which was also headed by the OKPARA was an important legislative institution in the traditional Igbo political system. It's membership consisted of all adult males, the council of elders, OZO title holders and age- grades.
Every adult male could attend the meeting and was allowed to speak on issues been discussed. The assembly made laws for their village and disobedience to such laws attracted severe punishment.
However, when the village assembly was unable to take an unanimous on any issue, the council of elders could enact a legislation for the entire village, after due consultation with the representatives of the various families.
#Priests of gods and goddesses.
priests of such a principal god/ goddesses as Ala or Ani ( the earth Deity) also made laws for the people in the Igbo traditional system of government. Tap on a clip to paste it in the text box. The power of the priest of Ala resided in the fact that Ala is indeed regarded as the supreme Igbo Deity. In the traditional Igbo society therefore, the (legislative) opinion or proclamation of the Ala priest was highly respected. This was usually with respect to land use and/ or misuse as well as produce of the same.
AGE - GRADES
The age - grades , i.e various groups of (usually) young men born at different periods, also made laws on issues concerning the activities and conduct of their members. Indeed some of their rules could affect the entire community. For instance, the rules made by the respective age-grades responsible for keeping the village markets and stream clean applied to their members as well as to every member of the community with regard to these facilities.
JUDICIAL ORGAN AND FUNCTIONS.
The judicial functions were exercised by the same council of elders and village assembly. These means that the Same set of people who made laws,executed them, and administered justice. These implied that there was no separation of power among the three(3) organs of government in the Igbo precolonial system of government.
Each family head settled dispute between the family members.where there was a dispute between two or more families, the elders of the families concern would settle it among themselves through dialogue and compromise. Serious cases were referred to the council of elders.
There were other quasi-judicial institutions which played a major role in the dispensation of justice in Igboland. some of these were
# THE ORACLE;
These were the highest judicial authorities.They served as a kind of Court of appeal.people who were dissatisfied with the decision of the elders or village assembly ,or if they could not reach a decision, took their cases to the Oracle. The decisions of these Oracles were final and indisputable. Some of the important Oracles were IBINUKPABI(or long juju) in Arochukwu. Others were AMADIORA,AGBALA, e.t.c.
#ALA, THE EARTH GODDESS;
Ala(or Ani) was another important Deity who also performed judicial functions. Many offences such as murder, assault of elders, destruction of farm crops etc,were regarded as serious offences against Ala, and they attracted severe penalties and sanctions. Such sanctions deterred people from commiting such offences.