Akoko Modern Political Elite and Decolonisation of Akokoland: A Study in Socio-cultural Freedom and Identity, 1940-1960

Abstract

There is a dearth of historical studies on Akoko modern political elite, which can yield insights into the political history of Akoko people between 1940 and 1960. This paper attempts to fill the vacuum by examining how local particularism divided the Akoko modern political elites in their quest for power supremacy and domination during the British colonial period. Agitations by Akoko modern political elite arose from political neglect and cultural imperialism. The study concludes that despite ideological differences among some Akoko groups, enlightenment through acquisition of formal education and the formation of political parties through township unions grew the quest for Akoko development among the Akoko modern elite groups.