Investigation Of The Effect Of Ipob Conflict On Lives And Properties In Nigeria

Investigation Of The Effect Of Ipob Conflict On Lives And Properties In Nigeria

Chapter One

Preface

Background of the study

The Nigerian state since its emergence has been floundering with the challenge of how to coalesce the multitudinous ethnical ethnicities in the country into one united nation. The challenge of forging public knowledge and concinnity among the different ethnical ethnicities has always been compounded by the incapability of the consecutive governments to frontally address the problems associated with citizenship, religion, race, inequality, resource distribution, native- settler contradiction and development. The negative fallout from the situation has not only promoted schism and distrust among Nigerians but has manifested in the resentful disposition towards the Nigerian state displayed by the ethnicities that feel underprivileged and displeased remaining in Nigeria. To this end, separatist agitations, which have been a regular point of Nigerian politics, remain a veritable tool for the expression of disgruntlement with the Nigerian state and a platform for demanding acceptable political accommodation. With the aid of hindsight, these separatist agitations that date back to the period of British social administration can not be adequately explained outside the environment of poor leadership and the absence of an testament with mass appeal( Tamuno, 1970). The interplay of power and forces between different ethnical ethnicities that resort to separatist agitations has constantly hovered the uninterrupted actuality of the Nigerian state. Unfortunately, the dominant political elites haven’t set up any practical result to this challenge. The arrival, in 1999, of republic which thrives in rule of law raised expedients that the enormous challenges besetting the Nigerian state, including separatist agitations, would be primarily addressed. The anticipation was that popular practice with its ideals of fairness, freedom, justice, equity and participation could give a platform for accommodation that could address the issue. But events since also have shown that the challenge rather than being answered is aggravating. By 1999, the Odua People’s Congress was the main group making separatist demands because of the dissolution of the June 12, 1993 election which was believed to have been won by late MKO Abiola, a Yoruba from the Southwest. moment a plethora of separatist groups and social movements, with different points and targets, exists in the six geopolitical zones of the country. The division of the country into six geopolitical zones( although not naturally honored but which has come a platform for political accommodation by the government) seems to have exacerbated the proliferation of separatist groups since it has made ethnical rallying a bit easier for the specific ethnical groups enwrapping the different geopolitical zones. It’s within the below environment that we can detect separatist agitations among the Igbo ethnical group in Southeast, Nigeria. The actuality of separatist movements similar as the Movement for the fruition of Sovereign State of Biafra( MASSOB), Biafra Zionist Movement( BZM) and the Indigenous People of Biafra( IPOB) all point to the perceived passions of marginalization and demarcation of the Igbos. These ill- passions which are part of the issues that led to the Nigerian- Biafran Civil War between 1967 and 1970 have persisted till date. The post war character of Nigerian politics in which the Igbo ethnical group appears to have been permanently denied the apex political position has not helped matters. Ironically, despite the cries of marginalization among the Igbos, the testament and modus operanda of these separatist movements have always been in conflict with that of the mainstream Igbo political nobility and leadership. Hence, frequently, they all appear to speak in discordant melodies. Meanwhile, in recent times, IPOB has stepped- up struggles for the fruition of the autonomous state of Biafra through demurrers and other forms of social rallying. The demurrers have touched off pressure and heightened instability and loss of lives and property. with the security agencies applying inordinate force to quell the demurrers.

Statement of Exploration Problem

With the emergence ofre-agitation of tone rule by the IPOB members, this has caused an uproar in the country and utmost especially in the South- Eastern part of the nation. The IBOBre-agitation for tone- rule gradationally transubstantiated into a severe conflict which has in turn led to the loss of lives and property. thus, this exploration seeks to probe the effect of IPOB conflict on lives and parcels in Nigeria.

Objects Of The Study

The main ideal of this study is to probe the following

1. To probe the causes and effect of these conflict in Nigeria

2. to probe if the IPOB conflict have led to the loss of lives and property in Nigeria.

3. To suggest possible ways these conflicts can be resolved

Exploration Questions

1. What’s the cause and effect of IPOB conflict in Nigeria?

2. In what way have the conflict led to the loss of lives and property?

3. What are the ways with which these conflict can be resolved?

Significance of the study

This study is significant for the following reasons

l It’ll exfoliate further light to the effect of IPOB conflict on lives and parcels in Nigeria

l findings from this study will serve as a standard for, UN peace associations, government agencies, individualities and academia

l It’ll also serve as a companion to unborn experimenters as it forms a base on which other studies can be accepted on the effect of IPOB conflict on lives and parcels in Nigeria

Compass Of The Study

This study intends to probe the effect of IPOB conflict on the lives and parcels in Nigeria Hence, this study is demarcated to Imo state in the South- Eastern part of Nigeria

Limitations of the study

During the course of this study challenges encountered were that of

fiscal constraint, was faced by the experimenter, in getting applicable accoutrements and in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor time factor disguise another constraint since having to shuttle between jotting of the exploration and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the experimenter

Functional Description Of Terms

Conflict this can be said to be a struggle or clash between opposing forces in a battle

Property this is an item that a person or a business has legal right over