British Colonial Administration and Perspectives on Disintegration and Transformation of Keana Confederacy

The advent of British colonial rule brought to the fore the contradictions inherent in indigenous and modern systems of administration. Such contradictions produced antigens that set in motion disruptions which, in extreme situations, degenerated into conflicts and disintegration of the erstwhile flourishing Kingdoms in Northern Nigeria, Keana Confederacy inclusive. The objective of this paper is to examine the role of British Indirect Rule in the disintegration of Keana Confederacy; and the subsequent reintegration process that transformed Keana into political and administrative autonomy, through the instrumentality of modern local government system. Adopting focus group discussion methodology, and a suite of reinforcing theoretical paradigms: Integrative and Conflict Resolution models, the study found colonial native administrative system and its contradictory “reforms” of the existing traditional system as incongruent, a development that fertilized the harbinger of disintegration of Keana Confederacy. The study, therefore, recommended that contemporary governmental administration should respect and take due cognizance of the existing orthodox chieftaincy setting when contemplating reforms of traditional institutions, to minimize distortions and consequent conflicts.