The Impact of Ethnic Conflict on the Socio-economic Development on Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone
Chapter One
Objectives of the Study
The aim of this research is to examine the impact of ethnic conflict on the socio-economic development on Nasarawa South Senatorial Zone.
Among the specific objectives include the following:
- To analyze the nature/extent of ethnic conflicts in Nasarawa South Senatorial District.
- To identify the cause of ethnic conflicts in Nasarawa South Senatorial District.
- To identify the problems associated with ethnic conflict on National Security.
- To explore, suggest and specify ways of addressing the problem of continued crisis in Nasarawa South Senatorial District.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
The Concept of Conflict
Coser (1968:232) defines “conflict as a struggle over value or claim to status, power and scarce resources, in which the aims of the conflicting parties are not only to gained the desired value but also to neutralize, injure or eliminate their rivals” while, Wallenstein (2006) defines conflict as “……as a social situation in which a minimum of two actors (parties) strive to acquire at the same moment in time an available set of scarce resources”. It is generally accepted that the psychological and behavioral elements, as well as structural conditions for alienation, combine to fuel conflict, (Azar, 1986; Burton, 1990).
Generally speaking, conflict connotes disagreement, dispute or controversy in the ideas or view point held by two or more individuals or groups. Disputes involve negotiable interest while conflicts are concerned with issues that are not “negotiable” (Oyesola, 2005:106).
Ethnic Conflicts in North-Central Nigeria
Since the return of democracy to Nigeria on May 29, 1999, parts of the Middle Belt region now better known by its new geo-political identity as North-Central Zone, have witnessed a series of communal, religious, inter and intra-ethnic crises resulting into mindless destruction of lives and property. The most affected states in the zone are Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue and Taraba states. Although Kaduna and Bauchi states are not strictly within this zone, the crises in the two states have had some effect on the zone itself. Most of what we say here about North-Central zone is more or less applicable to both Kaduna and Bauchi states.
The bloody clashes in Benue and Taraba states were inter-state and inter-ethnic; those in Plateau (Jos), Nasarawa (southern senatorial zone of the state) and Kaduna states were/are intra-state and inter-ethnic. The crisis in Bauchi was both inter-ethnic and inter-state. There is thus a common characteristic of inter-ethnicity in all these clashes.
Causes of Ethnic Conflict in Southern Senatorial District of Nasarawa State
Udo (1999) posits that Nigeria is largely a tribal society in which various ethnic groups lay claims to territories to the exclusion of other groups. For emphasis, the contestation arising from the indigene-settler problematic stems from the conception, definition and perception of who is an indigene and who is not or who is a settler and what right does one have which the other should not have. The batch of identity also structures indigene-settler relations. Osaghae and Suberu (2005:27) define identity as “any group attributes that provides recognition, definitions, reference affinity, coherence and meaning for individual members of the group acting individually or collectively”. These values shape the attitude and behaviors of settler communities. According to Egwu (1999) and Best (2011), the settlers import their culture and tradition into their new-community to the discomfort of the host communities.
The settler (non-indigene) communities latch on the Constitutional provisions on human rights and the problem of definition of status to assert their rights in their places of settlement. For instance, many National Constitutions and Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees free movement, free association and ownership of property but at the same time enshrine the Principles of Federal Character and Quota System (FRN, 2003). Who qualifies as an indigene, a citizen or national of a particular place in Nigeria is an important debate especially in the spate of various violent conflicts which have affected thousands of lives, economic activities, and human development.
The Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS (2011) defines an indigene as a person who is a native (first people) to a territory as opposed to a settler (Later comer). Indices such as length of time, settlement in that location, exercises of control over the land and other resources in that location; successful effort at forging a sense of separate distinguishing identity defined indigeneship. On the other hand, citizenship refers to nationality, the possession of formal legal membership in specific nation recognized under both international and domestic laws (Mamdani, 2000). The nexus between citizenship and indigeneship creates an identity dilemma which often breeds hostile relationship between host communities and settler-communities as has been demonstrated in the Tiv-Jukun conflict in Taraba state, and the Eggon and Alago crisis, and the Agatu –Fulani crisis in Nasarawa state, with similar cases in Jos, Kaduna, Kogi, Benue etc.
Nnoli (2003) posits that ethnic conflicts derive from the constriction between indigeneship and citizenship in the 1979 and subsequent constitutions evident in such institutional requirements as, place of birth, quota, state of origin, catchment area, among others. The problem is compounded by the inability of the Settler or migrant communities to fully integrate themselves with the host indigene/native communities through acculturalisation. Rather what obtains is detribalization and marginal personality (Osaghe and Suberu, 2005).
Effects of Ethnic Conflicts in Nasarawa South
The effects of ethnic conflict on Nasarawa South and Nasarawa State at large was very adverse cutting across social, political, economical, commercial, education and cultural life of the people of Nasarawa South in particular and the state at large as lives and property worth millions of naira was lost during the crises and economic and educational activities were put on a halt.\
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Study area
Nasarawa South which is made up of Awe, Doma, Keana, Lafia and Obi local government has the population of eight hundred and eleven thousand and twenty two (811,022). (Nasarawa state divisional 2006 census result).
Nasarawa South has agriculture as the mainstay of its economy with the production of varieties of cash crops throughout the year. It also has deposits of solid minerals such as salt, Barite, bauxite, etc which are mostly mined by artisanal miners.
Research design
The research design for this study use descriptive research survey in ascertaining the nature of ethnic conflicts and how it affects national security in the area. This research design involves collecting data in order to test hypotheses and answer research questions.
Population of the study
Population of this research consists of all five Local Governments Areas via Awe, Keana, Obi, Doma and Lafia. According to the 1991 population census, the total population of the Southern Senatorial District is put at 811,022.
Sampling technique and sample size
For the purpose of this study, the quota sampling technique is adopted. Due to the large nature of the population, a sample of two hundred (250) made up of fifty (50) each from the five Local Government Areas.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
Table 1: Religious Affiliation of Respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The problem emanating from the inter-ethnic relations and crisis in contemporary Nigeria today has come to attract immense interest, in that, it is closely related to the question of national unity and cohesion so that, in the event of frequent crisis of this magnitude, the whole sense of the socio-economic and political relations and the Nigeria state will be clearly defeated. This dangerous reinforces divisions and persistent tensions and offer violent mutual interest and experiences of peaceful co-existence is always tantamount to suicide and therefore detrimental must be stopped. Following this, there are other forces of social interaction/integration that can renew the existed relation, this can be done through interethnic marriages, cultural festivals among others. In the interim, the paper has actually deciphered the detailed forces that account for emergence of the various inter-ethnic violence in the study area and Nigeria state at large.
Inter-ethnic conflicts in Nigeria defy resolutions and seem unending because they are intractable conflicts which are sustained largely because they serve the socio-economic and political interest of the ruling elites or political leaders in other to achieve their political ambitions under the mask of ethnicity. Behind these obsession and love for ethnic values and dogma shown by the leaders lies the domination of ethnic values by the political leader’s selfish economic and political beliefs. Inter – ethnic relations identities in themselves do not create conflicts; it is the politicization of these identities. Such identities become problematic when access to opportunities in the political system in the political system in terms of power and resources are dependent on membership of a particular ethnic group, as well as when the state is relatively weak in terms of its capacity to protect its citizens and provide for their basic needs. The Nasarawa State and Southern Zone experience as it relates to ethnic conflicts has become a major phenomenon as socio-economic and political activities are defined along ethno-religious basis.
Conclusion
This study work has highlighted the nature of Ethnic Conflict and Threat to National Security of Nasarawa South Senatorial District of Nasarawa State. The prevalence of conflicts has serious implication for the development of any community or state. Ethnic Conflicts have resulted into enmity and hatred between the people who have lived together in peace for years in the area.
The resultant consequences of the above were the gross loss of lives and destruction of millions of property which had adversely affected the development of the area and endangered national security.
Recommendations
Base on the findings, the following recommendations were made:
- Government should endeavor at all levels to work with the various communities to promote harmonized relationships across the religions and ethnic affiliation. This can be achieved through the building of inter-ethnic religions civil network at the community level, these networks can be targeted for skills and capacity building, programmed in conflict management and transformation by Government and International Development partners alike.
- There is a need for intensive public enlightenment campaign on the need for tolerance and respect for norms and values.
- The creation of job opportunities and micro-credit options would, go a long way towards intimating the untoward features of alienation and internal colonialism, particularly as it affect the youths in the area. As their problem is particularly acute and have provided a highly explosive population-available for mobilization by political, ethnic and religious opportunist.
- Inbuilt traditional cultural, mechanism for conflict resolution should be explored and used. Communities which today are engaged in war have lived in peace for many years. It is important that those factors which made peaceful co-existence possible in the past should be identified and promoted. Traditional rulers should be given prominent and constitutional role to play in this effort. This will challenge them to live up to expectation and indeed restore people’s confidence in the traditional institution.
- Security agencies requires a major reform, better funding and adequately equipped; and highly motivated to provide more effective internal security to the satisfaction of the populace.
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