PREFACE
This work is an attempt to trace the History of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state. In this attempt, the various stages of Lcocalgovernmet Local Governments in Igboland and their attendant characteristics have been dealth with. Moreso, in the course of the research, the desire for local government reforms in Igboland as a whole has been seen to be natural desire of human beings to desire something better than what was existing, In this case, the old models of local government have been shown to be largely inadequate to meet these aspirations of the people. The work is divided into five chapters, each dealing on specific aspect of the history. Chapter one introduces the area under study. The background information about the lands and people are also contained in this chapter. Chapter two, opens with the recorgnisation of the warrant chief system in 1933.it also shows, through time perspective, the progression of other reforms and their impacts on the people. Chapter three treats the 1976 reforms of local government system in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on Aguata local Government area system.
In the Chapter four of this work, the problems and prospects of this local government system are also treated. With particular emphasis on Aguata local government area, these various problems are treated. The prospect of the local government, and its achievements are also highlighted in chapter four. The last Chapter which is the Chapter five concludes and proffers some recommendations.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The pre-colonial Igbo society was a kind of village-democracy. Every member of the society participated in the running of the affairs of the village in one form or another. The Oha-na-eze (usually made up of all adult males) took final decisions in all matters. The age-grade members of the town executed the final decisions. .
Law and Order was highly maintained and observed by all. But the European intrusion disrupted this set-up. The colonial masters, out of ignorance, imposed their own form of government: The Warrant-Chiefs System or indirect rule.
The Warrant-Chiefs exercised absolute powers over the people. They were high-handed in the administration of justice. The Court Clerks and messengers were equally corrupt and dictatorial. Taxes were later imposed on the people. There were general disenchantment with the system. This system was resisted in a widespread riot of 1929. The Aba Women’s riot of 1929 was part of the resentment shown by the people.
Thereafter, the colonial administration embarked upon the reforms of the system. In 1950, a new system of local government was put in place. But the most comprehensive attempt at local government reform in Nigeria was that of. 1976.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS:
Admittedly, before the invasion of Igbolandby the Europeans, the political entities in the forms of villages and towns had their individual administrative structures, for local government. These structures had sufficed for their needs. Thus, the towns and villages within the political sphere of the modem Aguata Local Government Area, were no exception to this.
Since the invasion of this area under study.tin the present time, these administrative institutions had either been phased out totally, or has undergone changes to suit the present needs of government. Moreso, the history of these institutions in the past are largely left to memory. These memories are unfortunately fast disappearing. This, therefore, gave rise to the need for documentation.
Attempts, it must be admitted, have been made by some scholars of borh history and other disciplines to unearth some information about the area under study. However, none has produced a systematic, constructive and cohesive work on this theme. Rather, only aspects dealing with individual component towns or the modem local government structure had been given attention.
To this end, an attempt would be made to show the dynamic progression from the past types of local administration to the present form.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The attempt being made here is to undertake a meaningful assessment of past experiences pertaining to the ways and means of local governance in the Aguata area from the past to the present time By this, the purpose of this work is to;
- Make it contribution towards the piecemeal recovery and documentation of the various aspects of our historical experience.
- Stimulate debates and further studies on the topic.
- Portray the various systems, their similarities and contrasts.
- Provide information and stimulate public interest in this age of self awareness.
1.4 SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
This work is intended to embrace all the towns which make up Aguata Local Government Area. It begins from the pre-colonial era till 1991.
This research utilises both the primary and secondary source materials:
On the primary source form; oral information have – been collected through the interviewing of people who are reliable owing to their positions in their respective towns, villages or lineage.
Moreover, the services of the National Archives Enugu were fully utilised. Here adequate use of documents relating to administrative activities and information on the Aguata area were also used.
From the secondary ‘source materials, various published scholarly works were utilised in the course of research. Books and journals dealing on the lgbo local administrative systems and the impact of local governments, were consulted.
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