“Nana was more successful than Jaja in his response to the intrusions of outsiders.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. Candidates may offer equal coverage of Nana and Jaja, or they may emphasize their discussion of one of them; however, both leaders will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to Nana’s negotiations with the British and his two treaties of protection, to Jaja’s continued exercise of a monopoly over the palm oil trade in the Niger Delta, or to the eventual capture by the British of both leaders. While other relevant factors—for example the successes of Nana and Jaja as effective state-builders whose efforts may have repelled intrusions—may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.