A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA’S DIPLOMACY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKOHARAM

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA’S DIPLOMACY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF BOKOHARAM

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CHAPTER ONE:

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

The crucial condition for the viability of a state lies in its ability to provide socio-economic and political security for its citizens. In functional and politically matured state, the provision of this security is regarded as a basic right of the citizens. The failure of a state to provide these basic rights often gave rise to the feeling of insecurity which may lead to variances thus leading to conflict.

Conflicts become more apparent when groups of people on security basis believe that they have to come together for their security and survival. This feeling is a function of crisis pervading human society. Considering the trend of crisis in the world today, conflict can be regarded as an inevitable phenomenon of human society. Conflict is inevitable because it often emanates from individuals or groups in reaction to unpleasant socio-economic and political situation within the society. Conflict is therefore seen as a multi-dimensional social process which is common and an essential feature of human existence Isaac Olawale (1998:15). In its simplest form, conflict refers to the pursuit of incompatible goals by individuals or groups. In essence, conflict situations arise when individuals or groups identify a goal, which they want to secure in order to satisfy material interest, needs or values. When these perceptions lead to actions that come up against the interest, needs or values of others, a conflict occurs (Ibid:16).

Globally, countries are increasingly involved in one conflict or the other. This has taken different dimension with the advent of modern technology and the proliferation of arms struggle consequent to the end of the cold war. Statistically, the current 18 wars and armed conflicts that are active and fought globally in different levels of intensity and at different stages of civil war, Africa accounts for 90 per cent, Evans and Newham (1992:52). Consequently, there are heightened concerns about sustained violent conflicts in Africa since the end of the cold war.

At this critical time, by popular acclamation, the raging insurgency and ubiquitous bomb blasts and terrorists activities hunting Nigeria today as led by the armed Islamic Fundamentalist group-the Boko Haram. First, is an intensity threat to the Unity of the nation, and second, is the single biggest security nightmare to confront Nigeria since after amalgamation of both Southern and Northern protectorate by the British in 1914.

This project is on the Pedestal of critical examination of the Boko-Haram insurgence, its impact on the development of education, especially the adult education in Nigeria, mostly in Northern Nigeria and particularly the North east and North West zones. This project also takes into account theory of conflict that explained and buttered the discussion in the analyzing of contending issues. Importantly, the work looked into damaging effect of Boko Haram, the History and ideas of Boko Haram, the timeline of Bombing and attacks, chronicle of Boko Haram menace.The Federal Government Committee on security challenges in the North east and the white paper on Boko Haram crisis and the proposed amnesty to Boko Haram. The work concluded by recommending some possible solution to the crisis such as: Human Capital Development, Social Justice and equality; tackling corruption and dialogue.

It is profound that this project also identified some critical factors as to the emergence of the insurgence that includes; social injustice and inequality, access to government resource; and dehumanizing belief among other salient causative factors.

For those who strongly believe that unemployment, illiteracy, poverty and lack of government attention together with social justice are responsible for the decision of some people to take up arms against the government, nobody can begrudge them of their conviction, but rationally it is not logical. But majority of Nigerian may still live with the fear of the unknown following relentless bomb attacks by members of the Boko Haram sect. The organization audacity has been demonstrated, whose main demands or aggregate demands are fairly known and whose main weapon-terror-is also known. The sect is an armed Islamist political group, probably factionalized with foreign collaborators as some have tagged them.

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

From research, expert believes that the greatest challenge that the human race has ever faced still remains how to live in a world free of the threat of violence. For violence is not restricted to times of war, it exists everywhere, in homes, schools and communities, and where there is injustice remains inevitable.

Other experts argue that much of the conflict in the word can be attributed to the existence of an oppressive social system of power that reinforce difference between groups and allows one group to have power privileged over another group. Besides, conflict at the local and international level in the assessment of security expert, can stein from exploitation, poverty. Corrupting governance, resources scarcity, and dehumanizing belief among other salient causative factors.

Marxism states that as “long as the global system relies on exploitative, oppressive and hierarchical relationship, there will likely exist conflict and peace may become impossible to achieve”. According to conflict theory, “Conflict is inherent and constant, but when positively managed it can be a productive force”. The conflict theory is founded on the argument that inhuman society, people typically seek to improve their outcome with regard to those things that they desire as worthwhile and desirable (Chukura et al, 2006).

A number of conflict theorist and practioners, including Paul Lededrach (1970s) advocate the pursuit of “conflict transformation” as opposed to “conflict management is a tool that, if well applied would help curb the intensity of destruction usually associated with violent conflicts.

Conflict transformation, as described by Lededrach, “is a methods by which local actors, people embedded or nested in the conflicted community, collaborate to resolved the conflict peacefully according to him, this is a process whereby, the local actors made up of the middle-level leaders found in the academics, religious bodies and humanitarian duties, should be involved in bring about peace in post conflict situation. These leaders are vast in matters concerning the warring communities and should be involved in the process. These bodies help to “reform the long term social structures that fostered and perpetrated the religious hatred, racism or other form of discrimination at the root of the conflict” (in crocker et al: 2001).

Conflict transformation, as described by Lededrach, does not suggest that we simply eliminate or control conflict, but recognized and work with its dialectic nature; by this means that conflict is naturally created by humans who are involved in relationships yet once it change (i.e. transforms) those events people and relationship that created the initial conflict, thus it describes a natural occurrence. The working with the dialect point the need to involve all actors/stakeholders in the conflict in dialoguing process in order to achieve sustainable peace transformation.

Albert and Otite (1999:10) defined conflict transformation “as a situation with the potential for developing constructive dialogue, culture and practice of tolerance, negotiations and the trading and rebalancing of interests, in the process of changing the nature and intensity of conflict. From he above definition we could find the important of putting to end the Boko Haram menace, with careful applied technique of conflict transformation; Even though damages had been done and the reality is down on us now, conflict outbreak as in no way add good to the much peace we desire. Speaking rationally, no human can never profit conflict, for conflict is retrogressive in all ramification.

John Dollard and his research associates initially developed the frustration – Agrassion Theory and has been expanded and modified by scholars like Leonard Berkartz (1862) and Aubery Yates (1962) and appears to be most common explanation and relevant for violent behavior from inability to fulfill needs which in turn affect the security of a nation. Theorists who rely on this explanation use the psychological theories of motivation and behavior, as well as frustration and Aggression (Anifowose 1982:6). This of course has been the case of the Boko Haram sect whose Militant activities was born out of frustration and aggression on the part of the policy matter and implementers of the northern region who for long have been aggrieved, perhaps benefit of lack of government attention.

Another explanation that frustration aggression theory provide is that aggression is not just undertaken as natural reaction or instinct as realist and biological theorists, but this is the outcome of frustration where in a situation the legitimate desires of an individual is denied either directly or by the indirect consequences of the way the society is structured. People will always support any body or group that hold brief against the government in terms of social injustice and oppression, but there are consequent along as these expression of aggression bring threat and measure fear on the citizenry. Nevertheless, the way the society is structured often give rise to disappointment, denial and demise due to draconically laws and implement project that are never implemented to the latter by politicians, employers of labors, the academic institution, oil companies the government and even the international community.

The structure of the country seem to be relevant propeller of complicit, being that it is residual in a way that it does accord the majority, minority or the so called marginalized the befalling recognition and right to resources, security and unemployment while hitherto brought about poverty. Thus affect the security of the state. The Marxist solution to this ‘’that the liberal structuralism should call for the elimination of structure defect with policy reforms.”One of the defects of government in Nigeria is corruption and government insensitive to the plight of the masses. A situation was the initiators and enforcers of laws and policies cannot efficiently and effectively carry out their activities when they are corrupt and involved in stealing the public funds.

In trying to reach a clearer understanding of the Boko Haram insurgency, too much weight should be not be placed on the literal measuring of the name the armed group has been given by all; Western Education is sin; Whatever Boko Haram may be, one fact stick out, there are basically two distinct groups involved; Those who naively hold the belief that they are engaged in a jihad (Holy War);and those exploiter the ignorance of the supported jihads dist. The latter is highly suspected to be largely modern of self-center policies that lost out in the last general election. But one thing about the Boko Haram jihadist group is that they are not agitating for any financial reward or compensation, neither do they ask for jobs. There cause is ‘religious’, on the basis of political Islam. “Political Islam is defining simply as “a set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system”. In other word Boko Haram sects as a modern activiist of political Islam fight to establish this political system in Nigeria. That why there demand for Sharia implementation in the Northern regime have never been drop. While it is important for us to understand that the bloody act of the many month still hold course for there actions.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Government and the citizenry are certainly under pressure over the spate of Boko Haram terrorist attacks, more so the damage emanating from them is largely the result of failure to get to grips with the issue. The incessant form of the onslaught is a cause for serious concern for those who really care for the unity of this country. Even more so is the securing helplessness of the security authorities agencies going by the confusion, rivalry and lack of influenced sharing collaboration which displays on the crisis. For now, the country has to count with damaging effect from the sects attacks and killing of innocent people.

There is no gainsaying that the rebellious Boko Haram activities have compounded the security situation in Nigeria. It is difficult to state the extent to which it has impacted on business as would be investors are now wary of visiting the North – East. This project focuses on the impact of the bokoharam crisis on the development of adult education in Nigeria. So, there is a drastic fall on investment in the education sector of the affected regions of the country. In some places foreigners and Nigerians from the Southern part have abandoned their business, house and jobs, while companies have relocated.

There is no doubt; there are general panic, dislocation and growing climate of fear in the country. This has created psychological problem to inhabitants of that zone, which results in massive relocation and abandonment of ancestral homes, loss of revenue through decline in the patronage of various hospitality and other services, including education. The bokoharam activities is especially killing the formerly impressively growing adult education in the North. Before the advent of the deadly activities of the sect, many youth corp members recall their pleasant experiences in the North, and how they are very well treated, and how there is a rapid growth in adult education. Today, the reverse is the case.

Objectives of the study
To understand the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution in Africa.
To understand the level of relationship between conflict resolution and the elimination of terrorist organizations like bokoharam from Nigeria
To understand the current challenges of conflict resolution in Africa in the face of growing extremist organizations

Significance of the study

This work pushed the barriers of knowledge in the area of discuss, it will provide more detailed and in-depth knowledge of researched into the topic of discussion.

Methodology of research

In this research the researcher among other methods used the descriptive research method. The descriptive research is concerned with the collection, presentation, analysis and interpretation of data for the purpose of describing vividly existing conditions, prevailing practices and beliefs, attitudes, on-going procures etc. the descriptive research goes beyond the description of the conditions or phenomena to include discovery of meaning. It also focuses a discovery of trends that are developing. The main objectives of descriptive research is to get detailed and factual information about issues, events, problems and describe the events as they are.

The descriptive research method enabled the researcher to describe in a systematic manner. The essentials of the descriptive research cannot be over-looked, it is a research that gives the true picture of the whole situation or problem. It gives the basis for eliciting possible policies for alleviating problems. It also saves time. The data for the descriptive analysis was generated through various types of data collection; they are interviews, which are structured interview and unstructured interview, also through an empirical investigation. They all will be discussed below.

This work makes use of primary data. Questionnaires would be used in gathering relevant and useful answers which would be incorporated in the analysis and discussions. Percentages and tables would be used as instruments of analysis.

Research Questions

1.What is the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution in Africa.

What is the level of relationship between conflict resolution and the elimination of terrorist organizations like bokoharam from Nigeria
What are the current challenges of conflict resolution in Africa in the face of growing extremist organizations

Conceptual and operational definition of terms
Conflict:

Conflicts are natural in all walks of daily life – both at workplace and home. Thus, conflict is ever present and both charming and maddening. But conflict is a complex and big subject. There are many sources of conflict. Conflict occurs when individuals or groups are not obtaining what they need or want and are seeking their own self-interest.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement.

Insurgence

An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents (lawful combatants). An insurgency can be fought via counter-insurgency warfare, and may also be opposed by measures to protect the population and by political and economic actions of various kinds, as well as propaganda aimed at undermining the insurgents’ claims against the incumbent regime.

Terrorism

“The unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”

Counter-terrorism:

Counter-terrorism (also spelled counterterrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practice, military tactics, techniques, and strategy that government, military, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or prevent terrorism. Counter-terrorism strategy is a government’s plan to use the instruments of national power to neutralize terrorists, their organizations, and their networks in order to render them incapable of using violence to instill fear and to coerce the government or its citizens to react in accordance with the terrorists’ goals.

Limitations of the study

Uncooperative respondents, reduced access to classified data on terrorism and insurgence, expanse of distance to travel for first hand information collection, time interval for research process, poor data and intelligence systems of the government.