This was a very popular question. Some candidates performed well in the part (a) because they were apparently familiar with the demands of the question but a few of them got it wrong because they did not limit it to Igboland as was demanded by the question. However, many candidates did not answer the part (b) of the question very well and consequently performed poorly. The candidates were expected to outline the following points in order to get good marks:

(a) (i) The units of Igbo society in Eastern Nigeria were too small to shoulder the responsibilities expected by the Indirect rule system;

(ii) Igboland operated village democracy;

(iii) there was an absence of traditional authorities to command the obedience of the people;

(iv) the people were already used to British system of direct administration because of their early contact with the British authority in the inland in 1893.

(b) (i) A commission of inquiry was set up having two Nigerian barristers, Sir Akintoye Ajasa and Mr. Eric Moore as representatives to investigate the causes of the riot and made recommendations;

(ii) re-organization of the system in line with the customs of the people;

(iii) Anthropological surveys of the area were conducted.

(iv) Warrant chiefs system remained, but with consequent reduction of their authority.