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Lot Essay
Nana Olumu (c. 1852-1919)
Nigeria
Itsekiri Governor of the (Benin) River (1884-94); a powerful trader, he tried unsuccessfully to limit British interference in the Niger delta.
The office of 'Governor of the River' had been created among the Itsekiri at the suggestion of the British to regulated the palm oil trade. When Nana became governor (1884) the office was the highest in the land, for the formerly strong monarchy had suffered an interregnum since 1848. The governor was chosen from among the leading traders; thus commercial skill came to replace descent as the prerequisite for power.
Nigeria
Itsekiri Governor of the (Benin) River (1884-94); a powerful trader, he tried unsuccessfully to limit British interference in the Niger delta.
The office of 'Governor of the River' had been created among the Itsekiri at the suggestion of the British to regulated the palm oil trade. When Nana became governor (1884) the office was the highest in the land, for the formerly strong monarchy had suffered an interregnum since 1848. The governor was chosen from among the leading traders; thus commercial skill came to replace descent as the prerequisite for power.