Nigeria suffers a variety of complex political problems including inequality, corruption, oil disputes, national disunity, and the boko haram insurgency. Oshita, fspsp directorgeneral institute for peace and conflict resolution, abuja since her independence in 1960, nigeria has experienced different types of violent. This was a major factor in the biafran secession and the resulting civil war. This paper analyses the structural challenges, root causes and dynamics of conflict, instability and resilience in nigeria. The conflict takes place within the context of longstanding issues of religious violence between nigerias muslim and christian communities, and the insurgents ultimate aim is to establish an islamic state. The major parties in nigeria have been near similar in composition, policy positions, manifestoes, ideological leanings and strategies omotola 2009. Fragility and climate risks in nigeria contracted under iqc no. The nature of political power in nigeria, together with the real and perceived benefits of capturing and maintaining power is a key source of. The history behind contemporary political conflict in the niger delta is therefore very important, considering the fact that colonialism as the root cause of political conflict in contemporary nigeria with special reference to the niger delta has not been adequately studied in existing works. Implications for national security ushe mike ushe, ph. Pdf on aug 9, 2014, olatunji alabi oyeshile and others published political conflicts in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. As a conceptual paper, the methodology is descriptive. An analysis grace malachi brown, phd department of history and diplomatic studies faculty of humanities rivers state university of education pmb 5047, rumuolumeni port harcourt, rivers state nigeria. It is assuming a philosophy where people result to seek solace because of the rising frustration in the sociopolitical system.
The ongoing boko haram conflict in the northeast, cycles of communal violence between pastoralists and farmers, and separatist protests in the south defined nigerias human rights landscape in 2017. The current situation in nigeria united states institute of. The boko haram insurgency began in 2009, when the jihadist group boko haram started an armed rebellion against the government of nigeria. Causes of conflict in nigeria and ways of resolving them legit. However, they have also recently experienced severe episodes of internal conflict. Closely examining the relationship between religion, ethnicity and conflict in.
Conflict, instability and resilience in nigeria gsdrc. Conversion to islam and the spread of christianity were intricately associated with issues relating to slavery and with efforts to promote political and cultural autonomy. In spite of nigerias huge oil wealth, there have been shortages of fuel. The impact of conflict and political instability on agricultural investments in mali and nigeria i mwangi kimenyi is a senior fellow and director of the africa growth initiative at the brookings. Colonialism and political conflict in contemporary nigeria.
Igbohausa feud that began after the military coup and countercoup of 1966, culminating in the civil war in 1967, efikibibio conflict, tivjukun debacle, fulanibirom clashes, and itsekiriurhoboijaw conflict in the niger delta. The igbo massacre of 1966 in the north that followed the countercoup of the same year had as a dual cause the igbo officers coup and preexisting sectarian tensions between the igbos and the local muslims. Most certainly, identity, citizenship, and political conflict in africa is a useful publication, which contributes to the disciplines of african studies, history, and politics and should benefit students, general readers, and scholars with interdisciplinary academic interests. This seven year conflict and humanitarian crisis in the north has killed 20,000 and displaced 2. Sociological theory religious dimensions of political. Look at the major reasons why nigerians fight with each other. Conflict, instability, and resilience in nigeria rapid. Pdf oil as a source of political conflict in niger delta. The impact of local adr and conflict prevention initiatives. Issues of conflict, political violencecrisis and insurgency in nigeria.
These conflicts have affected the foundation of nigeria unity and corporate existence. Resource based conflicts and political instability in. Also, muhammad 2015 submits that since the return to democracy, nigeria has witnessed serious backwardness in her socio political, economic, education and activities so that meaningful existence has given way to violence, ethnicity. Nigeria suffers a variety of complex political problems including inequality, corruption, oil disputes, national disunity, and the boko haram insurgency this seven year conflict and humanitarian crisis in the north has killed 20,000 and displaced 2. Pdf political parties, identities and violent conflict in nigeria. Over the last 50 years of nigerias political independence, the country has been confronted with varied crises and violence. As violence continues to claim lives in the countrys north, we analyse the factors behind the tensions. Focusing on the political countdown to nigerias upcoming presidential elections, this report assesses the apparent ethnoregional basis of the countrys two national political parties and raises questions about the relationship of religious identity and internal conflict. The conflict takes place within the context of longstanding issues of religious violence between nigeria s muslim and christian communities, and the insurgents ultimate aim is to establish an islamic state. The paper relying heavily on content analysis, explored the concepts of conflict and development. The organisation projects a population of 203 million in 2025 and 279 million in 2050, when nigeria is expected to have the worlds 6th largest population. Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians. Nigeria has witnessed many conflicts revolving around political, economic, religious and ethnic motives and after independence in i960. These conflicts have had enormous consequences in the development of nigeria.
However, they can be easily avoided through various ways. Religious conflict in nigeria goes as far back as 1953, and in the case of the town of tafawa balewa, to 1948. Conflict in nigeria 4 key lessons overall levels of conflict have risen between 2010 and 2016 sustained conflict is known to be both caused by and contribute to poverty. Nigeria is synonymous with deep divisions which cause major political issues to be. Pdf on aug 9, 2014, olatunji alabi oyeshile and others published political conflicts in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need. However, historically low voter turnout signals a deepening distrust in government and institutions. Political elitism and ethnic violence in nigeria since. Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians a cause for deep concern in recent times. Jul 22, 2014 mali and nigeria are two countries in west africa with great potential to increase their agricultural production.
D school of arts and social sciences,national open university of nigeria,lagos. Aidoaato1400022 fragility and conflict technical and research services factrs disclaimer the authors views expressed in this publication do not. Conflict, instability, and resilience in nigeria 2 electoral candidates will govern in favour of its coethnics and coreligionists. Mang chaimang and ms adaeze uju oguike for the complementary roles they played in editing the draft. Nigeria is a country that is full of surprises and conflicts in different areas and regions. Conflict and political ins tabilit y in nigeria will continue to dominate political discourse. As africas most populous country, largest economy, and biggest democracy, nigeria is a bellwether for the continent. The current situation in nigeria united states institute. Nigeria, as a nation, is bound by various ethnicities or ethnic groups, thus higazi noted that, the dominant discourses in the conflict refer to political exclusion on the basis of ethnicity and religion 14. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and. Nigeria, the largest country in africa has passed and is still passing through several restless stages. The second half of the paper explores the specific regionalised conflicts in greater detail.
Politics, conflict and nigerias unending crisis journal of global. Its objective is to explain how political elitism has contributed to the cases of ethnic violence in nigeria since 1960. In nigerias large and heterogeneous population, overlapping ethnic, religious, regional, and subethnic communal identities mark the faultlines along which political claims and violent conflicts are made. Nigeria as a heterogeneous society in terms of ethnic, religious and cultural pluralism is prone to conflicts. Executive summary this study aims at examining the phenomenon of ethnic violence in relation to political elitism in nigeria since independence. National and state elections in 2019 were deeply competitive, with scattered instances of violence amid a mostly peaceful process. Those conditions are the quest by ethnic and religious groups. Religious conflicts in nigeria world socialist web site. Indigeneity, one of the legal instruments designed to manage nigerias ethnic diversity, has instead become a source of tension and conflict.
In spite of nigeria s huge oil wealth, there have been shortages of fuel. Ethnic politics and conflicts in nigeria khazar journal of. Consolidated and zonal reports 9foreword professor oshita o. Nigeria as a federal state has over the years being entangled in this web of political and social conflicts due to poor handling of the rich human and material. Sociocultural drivers of conflict, instability and resilience.
Centre for conflict and gender studies university of port harcourt rivers state. Political drivers of conflict, instability and resilience. Problems of daily killing, corruption, unemployment, conflict in political parties, poverty among people in. Godfatherism and political conflict has become the dominant feature characterizing contemporary politics. Causes of nigeria unrest and conflict situation proceedings of theires 3rd international conference, dubai, uae, 4th july 2015, isbn.
Despite the governments announcement in 2016, that the group had been crushed, attacks have continued throughout 2017. Their role as a political phenomenon has impacted on the body politics of country negative virtues which are now potential threat to the relatively new democracy. Within nigeria, slavery was widespread and bore social implications that are still evident. Causes and effects of conflict on nigerias development. Despite the governments announcement in 2016, that the group had been. Political conflicts in nigeria article pdf available august 2014. Jul 26, 2012 is nigeria s conflict religious or political.
Nigerias underdevelopment, with special reference to her political. Until now, the analysis made in this paper has been guided by the medicodiagnostic method of inquiry, an analytical approach that seeks to avoid one of the commonly committed fallacies of the century jumping to a conclusion or making a hasty decision. Pdf on may 31, 20, sarabjit kaur and others published oil as a source of political conflict in niger delta find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. In order to put the conflict on the plateau in a proper perspective it would be worthwhile to highlight the recent political history of nigeria and to briefly illustrate the turmoil in the central states of nigeria otherwise called the middle belt, a geopolitical term with a lot of ethnoreligious connotations.
Political conflict in nigerian democracy project topics. The high incidence of political conflict has been a major problem in nigerian politics since the inception of the country as a polity. Ethnic, religious and political tensions are discussed. Democracy, violent conflict, political elite, poverty, nigeria. The impact of conflict and political instability on. Furthermore, no religious conflict in the nation is purely religious without ethnicity playing its way in it. Causes of conflicts and political instability in nigeria. The role of ecowas in managing political crisis and conflict. Efforts to reduce tensions and the potential for violence. Pdf violent conflict in nigeria and the rest of africa have produced a diverging set of analytical explanation. Using nigerias fourth republic as a reference point, this paper.
To have few resources at the disposal of a colossal number of people is to direct the emergence of poverty, just as ghandi of india put it. Aug 19, 2018 conflict and political instability in nigeria will continue to dominate political discourse. Inadequacy in nigeria as one of the causes of conflict in nigeria. The 1990 decade saw ecowas, spurred by its most powerful member country by far, nigeria, intervene. Abstract what began as a religious movement seems to be gaining political undertone. Mali and nigeria are two countries in west africa with great potential to increase their agricultural production. Causes of conflict in nigeria and ways of resolving them. The political axis of power flips along the northsouth regional divide.
The results are obvious, even a small spark can ignite a firestorm in nigeria. If the federal government try to freeze this conflict again instead of resolving it, then the next generations will bump into the same problem. Introduction nigeria and nigerians have been caught in the frenzy of centenary celebration. It is assuming a philosophy where people result to seek solace because of the rising frustration in the socio political system. Postelection assessment of conflict prevention and. As indicated in the preceding citation, an important dimension of the phenomenon of ecoresource conflict in nigeria is the rising incidence of herderfarmer confrontation. Keywords religion, ethnicity, conflict, violence recent decades have witnessed an increasing public and academic interest in the religious dimensions of political conflict. Identity, citizenship, and political conflict in africa. This appears to be most prevalent and pervasive in the northcentral region of nigeria, which has witnessed the worst occurrences of pastoralistfarmer violence as a. Democracy and violent conflicts in nigeria african journals online. Resource based conflicts and political instability in africa. The impact of conflict and political instability on agricultural investments in mali and nigeria i mwangi kimenyi is a senior fellow and director of.
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