The excessive power of the traditional rulers in the pre-colonial era could checked by ________

Analyze the question: It asks which group could limit (check) the excessive power of traditional rulers in pre-colonial Nigerian societies.

Concept: In pre-colonial societies such as the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa-Fulani and Benin, power was rarely absolute. Several checks existed:

• Council of chiefs/elders, who advised the ruler and could restrain him.
• Religious/priestly institutions, because rulers were believed to be sacred or tied to the gods and ancestors. Priests and oracles interpreted the will of the gods and could declare a ruler's actions unacceptable. An example is the Ifa priests (Babalawo) in Yorubaland, and the Oracle in Igboland.
• Age-grade associations and secret societies, such as the Ogboni in Yorubaland.
• The threat of rejection or removal. For example, the Alaafin could be asked to "open the calabash" (commit suicide) by the Oyomesi through the Bashorun.

Working through the options:

• A. Hunters: They were a occupational group with no formal political role in checking the king.
• B. Priests: They had religious authority and could use oracles and divine sanctions to warn or restrain rulers. This is a recognized check.
• C. Children of the chiefs: They had no formal authority over rulers.
• D. Farmers: They were the general population, with no institutional power to check the ruler.

Answer: The priests, option B.

Exam tip: For "checks on traditional rulers" questions, think of councils of chiefs, religious institutions (priests/oracles), secret societies (e.g., Ogboni), and age grades. Occupational groups like farmers and hunters are usually distractors.