ABSTRACT
In this study, I tried
to examine the mass media as regards to whether they have played a role in the
resolution of the Ijaw and Itsekiri Crisis, which started as far back as 1997
up till date. Hence this research work is carried out to determine to
what extent the mass media could go in crisis resolution.
The first chapter contains
the introduction, chapter two focuses on literature review, while chapter three
is the research methods and research samples in data gathering. Chapter
is a comprehension analysis and data interpretations on the role played by mass
media as a medium of crisis resolution in Ijaw and Itsekiri. Chapter five
summarises the entire work with some recommendations to it..
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.0.1 Headquarters
relocation and political issues
1.0.2 The
title of oluship
1.0.3 Economic
sabotage
1.0.4 Iteskiri
claims
1.0.5 Ijaws/urhobo
claims
1.1 Statement
of the problem
1.2 Purpose
of the study
1.3 Research
questions
1.4 Research
hypothesis
1.5 Definition
of terms
1.6 Assumptions
1.7 Limitation
of the study
CHAPTER
TWO
2.0 Review
of literature
CHAPTER
THREE
3.0 Research
method
3.1 Research
design
3.2 Research
sampling
3.3 Measuring
instrument
3.4 Data
gathering
3.5 Data
analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Data
analysis
4.1 Result
4.2 Discussion
CHAPTER
FIVE
5.0 Summary
5.1 Recommendation
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The disagreement between
the Ijaw and Itsekiri of Warri metropolis started as far back as July 1997, and
lasted through May 29, 1999, and since then has brought about an intercommunal
and political tussles. The Ijaws complained that the oil companies
operating in the area could not embark on any development programme in that
area. Instead the oil companies decided to help the then Oku of Warri,
thereby leaving the community in a devastating and helpless state.
These atrocious acts,
which began in 1997 and lasted through May 1999 have recently been
resumed. To date, over 3,000 people including women and children, have
been killed, their bodies desecrated. Additionally, 30 villages and towns
have been destroyed and burnt with tens of thousands of Itsekiri rendered
homeless. As the case between 1997 and 1999, both the federal government
of Nigeria and then Government of Delta State have not acted to restore law and
order, allowing the massacre and slaughter to continue unabated.
We have to take a look
at some issues that brought about this community feud.
1.0.1 HEADQUARTERS
RELOCATION AND POLITICAL ISSUES
The transfer of council
meant for the Ijaw clan of Ogbeli – Joh, Isaba and Abaranaty on the 13th of
March 1997 to the Itsekiri and the citing of the headquarters in an Itsekiri
settlement called Ogidigben in Wasrri North Local Government triggered off the
conflict between the communities of Ijaw and Itsekiri since 1997.
The political issues
involves land ownership tusses and the Urhobo’s testified that the ethnic
conflict between Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri North, South and South-West Local
Government Areas was due to political and economic problems Chief Benjamin
Okumagba stated that the Olu of Warri Ogiane Otuwase II is a ruler in exile and
it is an abomination for a traditional ruler to buy a piece of land for his
palace. Chief Okumagba said that the tehn present Olu, Erejuwa II begged
his father (Okumagba father) for a piece of land. Also Okumagba stated that
the federal government succumbed to the bidding of the Olu of Warri Ogiane
Atuwase II and his Itsekiri people in continuing to make the Itsekiri rule
Warri metropolis through river-rine wards of Ode – Itsekiri Obodo and Ibeji.
1.0.2 THE
TITLE OF OLUSHIP
Going memory lane, the
changing of the title of Olu of Itsekiri to the Olu of Warri in 1952 by Chief
Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group Government is one of the remote causes of the
tribal feud, because the Urhobo and the Ijaw in Warri sees it as a punitive action
against them. Between 1960 – 1966 the Ijaws and Urhobo were against the
then Action Group. Tendering a letter of 13th September
1952 from the acting civil secretary to the government Chief Okumagba insisted
that subsequent move by the royal father to create chieftaincy title from the
Itsekiri to reflect Warri Communal land trust by the then Action Group of the
Itsekiri was the genesis of the continuous communal feud in Warri.
1.0.3 ECONOMIC
SABOTAGE
The Ijaws also
complained that the oil companies operating in those areas do not embark of
development programmes in their areas. They went further to say that
instead of developing the Ijaws and Urhobos community where the oil company is
situated, the companies collaborated with the Olu of Warri and decided to
embezzle the money, for example the case of Ngbodo community who took the oil
companies to court for allegedly paying the Olu of Warri the sum of one hundred
million (N100m). this money could have been used in development of these
communities.
Though the arrowhead of
the discount was the then relocation of the Warri South Local government
headquater from Ogbehijoh in 1997, this in which many live and properties were
lost in the Warri metropolis.
1.0.4 ITSEKIRI
CLAIMS
Subsequently, there are
counter claims on the issues of the ownership of Warri from all ethnic group
corners.
They also cited a
Supreme Court judgment suit numbers Sc/37/73/3. In the same way the
Itsekiri regard the Urhobo as customary tenants of Itsekiri. This was in
line with statement of a prominent Itsekiri leader and retired judge of the
defunct Bendel State, justice Franklin Atake on the 13th June
1997. Atake claimed that the Ijaw came from their home – land of
Western Ijaw, while the Urhobo migrated from Agbarho-Otor.
1.0.5 IJAWS/URHOBO
CLAIMS
More so the Ijaws and
Urhobo also have their claims; for example they refer to Itsekiri claim as a
repeat of the Itsekiri and the Olu’s usual false propaganda and reckless
intimidation of government functionaries over the Warri Crisis. Chief
Okumagba stated that every human being has a homeland and that the Olu and his
Itsekiri leader homeland is in Ode – Itsekiri and their respective villages not
in Warri metropolis. He also stated that the Olu and his Chief are
strangers in Warri. He cannot lay claims to a square metre of land
acquired through inheritance as compared to his humble self and other Urhobos,
like situations whose landed property in Warri metropolis are acquired through
inheritance for a period spannig 600 – 650 years.
Recently, the motive of
Ijaw, who number about 8 million is very clear. They are isntent on
annexing and occupying oil rich Itsekiri land, should their genocidal attrack
against Itsekiri, a very small monority, succeed. Theis territorial
expanionist drive is designed to leverage both teir demand for increase control
of oil-derived revenue and threats of secession from the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, a terrorist move that compromise supply to the United States.
1.1
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The relocation of Warri
South Local Government headquarters from Ogbehijoh to Ogidigben on 13th March
1997 by the military government of Late General Sani Abacha. Other news
reports on the announcement follows broadcast by the media resulted to protests
and demonstration by Ogbeh-ijoh prople. More so mass media’s function is
to educate the masses, especially the conflicting communities on the negative
implications of such crisis persuasion functions is another function of the mass
media. The masses should be persuaded to eschew violence and embrace
peace organizing special programmes for the people to watch can do this.
The main
objective of this study is to examine the role played by Delta Broadcasting Service,
Warri, in the prevention, resolution and transformation of the Inter-ethnic
conflict in Warri in 2003. The specific objectives are to;
i.
Examine
the role played by the state government in the resolution and transformation of
the conflict.
ii.
Examine
the level of conflict prevention preparedness in DBS as a media outfit.
iii.
Identify
the plans and programmes put in place by DBS to build peace and prevent future conflicts.
iv.
Examine
the role played by DBS in the resolution of the conflict, through programmes
and coverage and,
v.
Identify
the constraints limiting the effectiveness of the media (DBS) in the
prevention, resolution and transformation of the conflict.
vi.
What
role did the State Government play in the Resolution and Transformation of the conflict?
vii.
What
is the level of conflict prevention preparedness in DBS?
viii.
What
is the pattern and level of coverage of the conflict by DBS?
ix.
What
role did DBS play in the resolution of the conflict?
x.
What
policies and programmes have been put in place to build peace and prevent conflict?
xi.
What
are the constraints to the effectiveness of DBS in preventing, resolving and
transforming the conflict?
1.4 DEFINITION
OF TERMS
RELOCATION
According to the Advance
Learner’s Dictionary, relocation is the moving into a new place or area.
The relocation of population, this has to do with the compulsory evacuation
with resettlement in a new area.
CONFLICT
Dictionary defines
conflict as to be in disagreement, fight, struggle, and quarrel.
RESOLUTION
According to the same
dictionary resolution is having the quality of being resolved. Fixity or
boldness of determination
1.6 ASSUMPTION
From the research
hypothesis it is assumed that the mass media did not contribute positively to
the Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis resolution and this had prolonged the speedy
resolution of the crisis.
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