James Watt
| James Watt | |||||||
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| File:Watt, James.jpg | |||||||
| Residence |
Oakland, Dumfries Southern Nigeria Old Calabar, Southern Nigeria [1902 list] | ||||||
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Contents
Notes
Office Notes
House Notes
Proposed by J.L. Myres; seconded by T.A. Joyce, 1902.10.28
District Commissioner
Notes From Elsewhere
WATT MARKET [in Old Calabar]
this market was established 1901 and was named after a British man known AS”JAMES WATT” who was a district commissioner. The market was originally located around Edem/Etom Street before moved to the present site in 1990.
The controversy started when James Watt, the commissioner of Benin province, who believed so much on the ability of Obaseki summoned the Benin chiefs to a number of interviews to select an Oba. Aiguobasimwin, Eson, Ezomo and Ero were invited. Chief Ezomo supported Obaseki for the Benin throne. Chief Ero told James Watt that, the title of Oba is hereditary in Benin. Chief Eson supported Ero’s stand on the side of tradition in favour of Aiguobasimwin.
It is important to add however that, before a final decision on the succession was taken, Lord Lugard sent Colonel H.C. Moorhouse, who knew the Benin native and custom to some extent to visit Benin and report to him. After much consultations and proper investigation, James Watt and Colonel Moorhouse recommended that Aiguobasimwin should be allowed to succeed his father as the King of Benin. On the strength of the above, it can be said that, the principle of hereditary and primogeniture as well as the support of chiefs Ero, and Eson saved the situation, as James Watt could have preferred his friend, Obaseki to be crowned as the Oba, thereby creating more problems. [from
Benin: A study in the budding crises in the polity, 1914 to 1939
Michael Ediagbonya
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria ]