KINGSHIP INSTITUTION AND POWER POLITICS IN AKOKOLAND NORTHEASTERN YORUBALAND IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Abstract

Kingship and power politics remain significant in Africa's post-colonial development discourse. Debates on the role of this age-old political institution in modern governance however remain polarised. For the modernists, traditional political institution has become anachronistic and has little role in a rather 'sophisticated' system of governance. In contrast, the traditionalists submit that since the kingship custodians have identifiable jurisdiction in the periphery, the best the wielders of modern political powers could do was to collaborate with them for inclusive nation-building project. In this context, the paper discusses how the traditional rulers in Akokoland showed resilience through the tactical deployment of power politics as instrument of control, stability and order. The historical approach was adopted using primary and secondary sources. In-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected informants based on their knowledge of the history of kingship and power politics in Akokoland for primary data while secondary data were sourced from books, journal articles, theses and materials from the internet. Data were subjected to historical analysis. The paper argues that the tactical use of the different components of power politics was informed by the desire of the traditional rulers to ensure the continued survival of the kingship institution, their powers and relevance serve as viable social mobiliser, pillar of communal cohesion and integration. The paper concludes that despite some of the challenges facing traditional rulers, they have continued to show dynamism through adaptation and continuity as worthy agents of change and progress. It is, therefore, the position of this paper that efforts should be made by government to help reduce the incidence of bitter kingship/chieftaincy disputes to avoid the further disintegration of the institution and allow its custodians play their roles as reliable partners in the nation-building project.