ABSTRACT
The
dynamism of this study generally sought to understand why the Nigerian state
has remained deeply divided and prone to structural violence especially in the
North Central zone despite all governmental and nongovernmental efforts at
ensuring stability, and fostering unity in diversity and peaceful coexistence
among its regionally, ethnically and religiously diverse population. The study
was an attempt to understand and shed some light on a phenomenon that has had
debilitating consequences on the Nigerian state and its people, and left some
gaps in our knowledge of the circumstances that harness or hinder the
integrative and peace-generating function of federalism in Nigeria.
The
adoption of the conflict transformation approach in dealing with structural
violence in the North central zone was also explored and examined in order to
understand how the approach can work in the Nigerian federation, and in
enhancing political stability in Nigeria. In understanding the phenomenon, the
study specifically examined structural violence and
the various challenges posed by structural violence in the Nigerian political
space. It also explored the concept of violence in the Nigerian federal
structure from 2011-2015 in relations to the North central Zone. In an
attempt to investigate the phenomenon, the study employed a qualitative
research method for gathering and analyzing data.
In
achieving the objectives of the study, the thesis assessed the context of
federalism all over the world, and narrowing it down to the Nigerian example,
its origins and other contextual issues connected to it, structural violence
was also examined extensively, and its key concepts, including incidences of
structural violence in the north central zone and the overlying and underlying
causes. The conflict transformation theory
and the structural conflict/violence theory were adopted for the
theoretical discourse.
The summary of findings of the
research suggests that the values, attitudes, actions and perception of the
people with regard to issues that were ethno-religiously contentious reinforced
the centrifugal forces that tend to cause structural violence in the North
Central zone. This finding emanates from the expressed descriptions and
indicated perspectives of various authors as well as the data obtained from
other sources. It thus recommended that Nigeria should aim at fashioning out a political culture
that will downplay, if not totally eliminate feelings of mistrust, deep-seated
animosity that exists among the various ethnic groups in the country.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Africa,
especially the Sub-Saharan region has been plagued by conflict for many decades
now (Clempson, 2012). There has been a great deal of war and bloodshed since
the colonial masters left the continent. According to De Ree and Nillesn
(2009), the last six decades has experienced up to 47 civil wars in sub
–Saharan Africa which in turn has resulted in over 1.37 million deaths on the
battlefield and an even larger number of civilian deaths. In Nigeria, over the past two decades,
especially in the middle belt, the country has also experienced an increased
level of violence” (Action Aid Nigeria, 2014). Experts have in several studies
identified economic disparities and more importantly structural violence, as
key factors in the rise of violence in the region (Olojo, 2013; Walker, 2012;
and Adesoji, 2010).
According to Olojo (2012),
structural violence has predicated thousands of impoverished and unemployed youths in northern
Nigeria to take part in armed violence. This state of events according to the
report has resulted in the said youths becoming willing recruits for the
terrorist organisationBoko Haram’s who has being the main cause of a series of
conflicts and armed violence predominant in the Northern part of Nigeria. Olojo
(2012) attributed the main cause of the Boko Haram crisis to poverty, lack of
education and social marginalisation. This makes a clear case for the premise
that structural violence is one of the more responsible factors leading to
armed violence and conflict in the region under review.
Another
serious case of conflict that has plagued the North-central region of Nigeria
in recent years is the crisis that has persisted between Fulani herdsmen and
farmers in various states in the region. The problem here can be traced to a
belief of land and ‘overlord-ship’ entitlement held by one or both parties and
the resulting violence is caused by the feeling that the other party is
trespassing or encroaching on land that does not belong to them. Other cases
reported include Fulani herdsmen taking up arms against farmers who accuse them
of despoiling their crops with cattle during grazing and farmers taking up arms
against Fulani herdsmen upon hearing that ‘so and so’ farmer was attacked in
‘so and so’ town. Again the development of these cases of conflict can can be
explained using the concept of structural violence. Galtung (1969)’s structural
violence paradigm underscores how socio-cultural systems, political structures
and state institutions create structural violence among people and indirectly act
as instigators of armed violence and conflict. By implication, it is the many
factors of political, social and ethnic machinations (e.g implementation of
land tenure and the concept of communal land, lack of proper litigation and
inter-ethnic conflict mediation in rural areas etc) that has created the
aforementioned beliefs of entitlement as well as a system that can continually
breed violence and conflict. Accordingly, the theory suggests how seeds of
hostility are sown and ultimately degenerate into large scale uprisings,
revolutions and conflicts within societies.
Structural conflict is therefore
inherently built into a society through its structure and organization as it is
seen in the forceful foundation of the Nigerian state’s adoption of federalism
as was propagated by the British. Structural violence in this context examines
the social problems that have manifested itself in the North central zone as a
result of certain federal principles such as federal character/quota system,
fiscal federalism amongst others that do not suit the system or are not
properly balanced in practice, this principles have brought about; political
and economic exclusion, poverty, injustice, exploitation, religious conflicts
which are the major sources of conflict peculiar to this zone. Structuralism
maintains that conflicts occur because of the exploitative and unjust nature of
human society, domination of one class by another (Faleti, 2006).
Conflict is inherent in society; so are
mechanisms for dealing with it. The decline of traditional authority and its
role in conflict mediation has contributed to the development of large-scale
conflict in countries such as Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and our case study, north
central zone of Nigeria. Characteristic of many conflicts in the northern zone
of Nigeria have degenerated to a critical level. It has so far defied possible
explanations where life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. The state
at present is in a dire situation of unrest, continual suspicion, perpetual fear
of violence and death. In this condition, there is little place for industry;
because the fruit thereof is uncertain and worse of all, continual fear, and
danger of violent death.
Conflict transformation is an emerging
field or theoretical framework in the study of conflict resolution and
management. The idea behind conflict transformation is to go beyond just
resolving conflict and try to ensure that one attains a long-term goal of
‘transforming’ or addressing the reasons for the conflict in order to ensure
that it never arises again (Miall, 2004).
Conflict transformation appears to be
able to provide a lasting solution to the issues addressed above. This is
because, unlike most other conflict management techniques, conflict
transformation actually tries to tackle a problem of conflict from the cause
through to its effects. Thus, this research aims at investigating the
relationship between structural violence and conflict in North-central Nigeria
as well as the suitability of conflict transformation for tackling the
underlying problems.
1.2 Statement of
the Problem
In Nigeria today, the adoption of
Western civilization and system of government can be argued to have actually
increased imbalances in the Nigerian federation as exemplified in continued
centralization and concentration of power at the centre with its attendant
consequences; conflicts of varying degrees. This has led to a great deal of
marginlization of minority ethnic groups (e.g. Niger-Deltans and North-Central
tribes); causing poverty, poor education and structural violence (Agang 2013).
The resulting effect of this state of things has been conflict and armed
violence which has troubled the region for the last two decades or so (Action
Aid, 2014). Even though there is a consensus that the federal idea is the most
suitable mechanism for fostering unity and diversity in the context of ethnic,
religious and regional pluralities of Nigeria, there is still the feeling that
the federal system; which was adopted by Nigeria as a way of managing her diversity
and heterogeneity; has not yielded much peaceful output, but rather, has
created problems and violence amongst the various groups in the country. In the
North central zone, the idea of federalism in the Nigerian political space has
so far not been able to tamed the recurrence of ethnic clashes and violence,
there still exists imbalances amongst the people which is the major source of
conflict.
It is based on the contending issues
that this study is relevant for theoretical and practical reasons. A study of
the nature and prevalence of structural violence and the role it plays in
premeditating armed conflict and violence will be important for addressing the
Nigerian Structural Violence problem whose solution has eluded both policy and
experts till date.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to
assess the incidence of structural violence present in the North central zone
of Nigeria, and how conflict transformation can be used to proffer solutions to
this problem.The specific objectives are to;
1.
examine the concept of structural
violence;
2.
Interrogate incidences of structural
violence in North Central Nigeria;
3.
assess the role structural violence
plays in premeditation of armed violence and conflict in North Central Nigeria
and
4.
evaluate how conflict transformation can
be used to manage structural violence
and conflict in North-Central Nigeria
1.4
Research Questions
1. To
what extent is the state of structural violence in North Central Nigeria?
2. How
has the prevalence of structural violence resulted in North-central Nigeria
armed conflicts?
3. How
can conflict transformation be used to manage the structuralviolence posed in
the North Central Zone?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study is very significant because it
would enlighten readers and researchers and the public on the silent issue
known as structural violence and how it has contributed largely to some issues
of conflict in the North central zone of Nigeria.
This study would also contribute to
knowledge in the society, as it would l serve as reference material to the
researchers and the scholars in the field of political science and Peace and
conflict studies.
The study would help Nigerians develop
keen interest in global discourses on structural violence, and its role in
mitigating against national peace. It would also, promote peaceful
interrelationship among diverse regions of the country and usher in
developmental initiatives to the system.
The study also has importance in the
context of Nigeria. Although much research has been done on structural violence
in Nigeria, there is a distinct lack of case studies that relates the concept
to conflict degeneration. Therefore, this study would help to fill this
research gap.
1.6
Scope of the Study
The scope of this research would be restricted
to structural violence and key examples of conflicts that have degenerated from
them in the north central zone as well as the role of conflict transformation
approach in addressing such key issues. The North Central Zone consists of the
seven states situated geographically in the middle belt region of Nigeria,
spanning from the west, around the confluence of River Niger and River Benue:
Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau States. This study examines 5
years of prevalence of structural violence in the Nigerian federal structure
from 2011-2015 in relations to the North central Zone. The choice of north
central zone as a case study is informed by regularity of ethnic conflicts and
rivalry in the area and the strategic location of the place as it serves as
gate way to the Northern, Southern and Eastern parts of the country.
1.7 Methodology
As defined by Patton (2002), research is
something that people undertake in other to find out things in a systematic
way, thereby increasing their knowledge.
The methodological approach of this
study is qualitative because it aimed to achieve in-depth understanding of
structural violence in the north central zone of Nigeria: a conflict
transformation approach. Moreover, the study required data collection that
embraces perceptions about the actors who have been involved either in
instigating or managing conflict. Hence in this study a mix of primary and
secondary sources of data was adopted. This is justified due to its intrinsic
values. For any research to be meaningful, reliable and scientific fact and
ideas must be supplemented with empiricism. Secondary materials like textbooks,
research papers, government publications, newspapers, magazines etc where used.
The organisation and analysis of the
data collected started with their sorting into themes and sub themes, informing
the structural arrangement of the findings. This is however done in an attempt
to avoid the challenges involved in the interpretation of the findings and to
reach a good conclusion.
1.8 Research Design
The two basic research methods used in
any research is the quantitative and qualitative approach. However, the
qualitative approach was adopted for this study. Qualitative studies encompass
a broad range of data collection methods which include: observation,
documentary analysis and interviews.
According to Denzin and Lincoln (2000), ‘Qualitative research
involves an interpretative, naturalistic approach to the world’. This means that qualitative
researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense
of, or to interpret, phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them.
The qualitative approach was adopted for this study because the researcher does
not intend to use statistical inquiry and techniques to gather data about the
social phenomena to be researched. Therefore the researcher made use of both
primary and secondary data sources which includes:
(a) elite interview sessions with key
political figures in the area of study was conducted by the researcher and the
following persons were interviewed: HRH Chief Nuhu Ododo “Omo olobu Attah
Igala” of odu ogodo anya of Dekina local government area of Kogi State. Also,
Mr Cosmas Num (Director Special Services Bureau of Internal Affairs and special
services, Makurdi Benue State) and finally Honorable Alilu Ogbadu (Special
Assistant to a legislative member) National Assembly Abuja. The choice of this
respondents was borne out of their work experiences and access to first hand
information.
(b) collection of articles and journal
publications from Babcock university library, and the Ken Nnamani Political
Science Resource Centre and online journals that were accessed via the
internet. (c) The use of text books and citations from previous Authors whom
have written on the related subject matter were also used. Another source of
data was media reports including newspapers, magazines and other commentaries
which were collected over a period spanning from 2011-2015.
The method is more efficient as it
enables the researcher study the phenomenon effectively and make forecast based
on the findings. Coming from the explanatory approach of a qualitative analysis
that seeks to give the explanation for what is going on given a situation, this
study tried to give explanations or cause-effect relationships between armed
conflict and structural violence using historical information, articles, media
reports and other records that serve as the basis for making inferences as to
the reason for structural violence in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. The
collection of these evidences formed of theory or concept proposed for the
effect of Structural violence on conflict in the north central region of
Nigeria. Therefore, in order to achieve the objectives of this study, a
thematic approach was adopted to analyze available data and draw conclusive
inferences.
Before the qualitative data was
obtained, the researcher carried out an initial textual examination of the
primary sources relating to structural violence in Nigeria. This was followed
by an analysis of secondary literature (journal articles and commentaries)
where available. After this initial analysis, qualitative interviews were
undertaken for key members of society living within the north central zone of
Nigeria. The rationale behind this was to get an inside view from more informed
respondents who have full grasps and knowledge of actual events and trends both
from societal and political points of views.
1.9 Area
of the Study
The focus of the study is North Central
Nigeria. The zone includes the following states, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nassarawa
and Niger states. They are also described as middle belt states because they
are geographically located at the centre of Nigeria. The estimated population
of people in the zone is put at 20 million, which is approximately 11.8% of the
total population of Nigeria. Each of the states in the zone has a mix of tribes
and cultures that impact upon the life of the people. There are also majority
ethnic groups within the region that reflect an abstraction of the fate
suffered by minorities in the country. The study area was selected to represent
the general characteristics of the zone in line with established statistical
principles.
1.10
Operational Definition of Terms
Central to this study are certain
concepts that need clarifications in other to provide a focus for the senses in
which they are to be understood in this study as perhaps against other usage or
their general usage in the literature of the genre. These concepts are:
Structural
Violence: Structural violence does not necessarily involve
physical force; it is called structural violence which ordinarily means the use
of physical force to justify rebellion against unjust institutions by appeal to
the self-defense. Structural violence is a name for what would more correctly
be called social injustice.
Conflict: Conflict is a situation in which
people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument.
Conflict
Resolution: This deals on how to control or manage
an existing conflict so that it does not escalate, thereby leading to chaos,
crisis and war.
Conflict
Transformation: Conflict transformation draws on
familiar concepts of conflict management and resolution. It is a process of
engaging with and transforming the relationship, interest, discourses and, if
necessary, the very constitution of society that supports the continuation of
violent conflicts. This recognizes that conflicts are transformed gradually,
through a series of smaller or larger changes as well as specific steps by
means of which a variety of actors may play important roles.
Community:
Refers
to a group of people having the same culture.
Communal
Conflict: Is construed in the study as a conflict within a
homogeneous group.
Insurgency: An insurgency is a rebellion against
authority when those in taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as
complaining.
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