The Frightful Patriotism and Peace Resolutions in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria

By Isaac Benjamin Eboh

Isaac Benjamin, who is also known as Isaac Benjamin Eboh is a prolifi c writer in
both literary and research works. The author prefers to use his fi rst set of names
as Benjamin is his father’s name while Eboh is his grandfather’s name. The author
does not wish to have any misinterpretation of his identity. Isaac is a product of
the Nigerian Defence Academy. He is a member of the 40th Regular Combatant
Degree Course. He holds a Degree in Political Science, a Master’s Degree in Peace
and Confl ict Studies and is also pursuing a Doctoral Programme. The author is a
member of the Special Forces Elite Airborne Corps of the Nigerian Army and has
several professional certifi cations. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of
Industrial Security. The author has fought in several theatres of operation and has
also served with some United Nations Missions. Among the UN Missions that the
author served was that of MINURCAT (The United Nations Mission in the Central
African Republic and Chad). He wrote a book titled, “Farewell To N’Djamena,”
after his tour of duty. The author loves his country, Nigeria passionately. This book
for him, is part of his nation building effort.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Apr 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665597807

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© 2022 Isaac Benjamin Eboh. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  04/11/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-9781-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-9780-7 (e)

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For

Brig Gen Raymond Ochei Ph.D FCNA FNIM mni

CONTENTS

Chapter 1     Peace Resolutions and the Concept of Frightful Patriotism in the Nigerian State

Chapter 2     Threat to Patriotism and Increased Political Feuds

Chapter 3     The Call for Secession and the Drums of War

Chapter 4     Nigeria Political History and the Mismanagement of the Nigerian State

Chapter 5     Decline in National Development: Economic Growth and Poverty

Chapter 6     The Mistrust for the Military by the Nigerian Elite and lack of Patriotism

Chapter 7     Governance and Corruption: A Threat to National Growth

Chapter 8     Democracy, The Military as Vanguard of Revolutionary Stability in Nigeria

Chapter 9     The Painstaking of Fighting Domestic Terrorism in Nigeria

Chapter 10   Cross-Border Alliance and The Proliferation of Arms in West Africa

Chapter 11   Youth Development and the Buhari Transformation Drive

Chapter 12   Nation Building and Corrupt Patriotism

Chapter 13   The Concept of Citizenship and Conflicts in the Fourth Republic of the Nigerian State

Chapter 14   Effect of Conflict Management on Organisational Efficiency – A Case Study of National Identity Management Commission in Lagos.

Chapter 15   The Need for Long Term Defence Plan on National Security Policy

Chapter 16   Food Production as Alternative Swift from Total Dependence on Oil

NIGERIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

Arise, O compatriots

Nigeria’s call obey

To serve our fatherland

With love and strength and faith

The labour of our heroes past

Shall never be in vain

To serve with heart and might

One nation bound in freedom

Peace and unity.

Oh God of creation

Direct our noble cause

Guide thou our leaders right

Help our youth the truth to know

In love and honesty to grow

And live in just and truth

Great lofty heights attain

To build a nation where peace

And justice shall reign

Nigerian National Pledge

I pledge to Nigeria, my country

To be faithful, loyal, and honest

To serve Nigeria with all my strength

To defend her unity

And uphold her honor and glory

So help me God.

CHAPTER ONE

Peace Resolutions and the

Concept of Frightful Patriotism

in the Nigerian State

Introduction

The Nigerian State has over the years been referred to as the ‘Nigerian project’ by some schools of thought and casually by Nigerians. It is in the light of this that this book has carried out some works on the trending issues that have beset this amazing country for many decades. Peace Resolutions have concepts that would be discussed as we proceed in this study. However, it is pertinent to note that right from the independence of this great country, there have been several conflicts which have at different settings threatened the unity of the nation. From the onset, the Northern and Southern Protectorate merged together to form the Northern and Southern Protectorate of Nigeria. It was as though there was a forced union that had so many ethnicities and tribes with people of different religious beliefs and languages kept together. Then, several political conflicts followed the post immediate Independence era part of which culminated in the Nigerian Civil War. Nigeria was mockingly regarded as ‘a mere geographical expression.’ This is very derogatory for a country that was known as the giant of Africa due to her enormous human and natural resource endowments.

In a bid to try to establish nationhood, the nausea democracy got truncated by various political disagreements which caused the elite and politicians to persuade the military to take over the reins of power to avert total chaos and early collapse of the Nigerian State. The military incursion into power were efforts to manage the conflicts and intolerance within the Nigerian State. Unlike the South African State, which needed to forge ahead after many years of apartheid. Nigeria’s challenge was not from foreign settlers but within itself.

The desperate need for true patriotism was what was obtainable in the United States before former President Trump’s loyalists’ invasion of the Capitol Building. On January 6, 2021, a mob of 2,000–2,500 supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. This was very unexpected of her democracy. Conflict resolution in the Nigerian State is very vital. This is because people from different tribes are bound to perceive life and political issues differently. It is also for the reason that there is so much suspicion in the activities that surrounds the Nigerian Federalism. So, the shift towards the country’s love and enhanced patriotism is dead and channeled towards tribal love and religious bigotry. It is partly the embedded complex nature of our people that seems to defy the methods of peace resolutions. Our cultures and traditions are not only many but varied. These have affected our inner most recess of true patriotism. This book will try to state the framework for sustainable peace that could lead to a viable patriotism. It will further explore the dynamics that could bring solid patriotism amid the tribal, religious and political rascality that have pervaded our country.

Concept of Frightful Patriotism

and Peace Resolutions

For the various challenges the country has gone through, any initiative for reconciliation and conflict resolution will suffice if there is the assurance that the present flawed relationships can be amended. It is very important also to observe that injustices that have been committed in the past must be addressed. The Oputa panel of Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission of Nigeria was set up by the Obasanjo’s administration to carry out investigation into certain rights violations. The panel which submitted its report in 2002 did a very good work but the report was not fully implemented. It was as though the panel was set up to address particular injustices that were of interest of the government of the day.

However, it is necessary that true patriotism be addressed by truly seeing the wrongs and act on a reconciliatory venture than clamour for revenge or separation. Unfortunately, the conflicts in Nigeria seem endless even with genuine attempts towards solving them. Archbishop Desmond Tutu of blessed memory, who was also the Nobel Prize Peace winner did reflect on the South African experience when he stated that without reconciliation, there is no future (Wustenberg, 1998:5). This assertion highlights that there should be a complete need for every state to desire for peace and conflict resolution.

The Fourth Republic ushered in some political, economic and social dimensions to the problems that came with the Nigerian project. The June 12 election upheavals led to the death of Chief MKO Abiola and the dreadful suspicion of a likely truncation of the democratic process. This made it necessary for President Olusegun Obasanjo who was shortly released from jail in 1998 before the election, to have a purge of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By this act, President Olusegun Obasanjo retired all the senior military officers who were former Military Administrators of the 36 States of the Federation, Ministers as well as others who held sensitive political positions or served under the key office holders.

Although the general public was excited with the new political project, the usual crisis that characterized democratic processes in Africa began to show itself not too long after President Obasanjo resumed office. It was obvious that some of the victims of the military purge who were serving officers that had been at the corridor of power for many years had their sympathizers who were against the action. There were also those whose careers were cut shot unexpectedly and had no other means of survival. It was therefore, quite suspicious that very fierce plots and intrigues could begin to play out within days and months or perhaps a few years into the Fourth Republic. This fear did not happen.

It is therefore, very essential to look at the Concept of Frightful Patriotism before examining the tools for peace resolutions. The concept is borne out of experiences of trauma, bereavement, separation and socio-economic inequalities, violent conflicts and neglect that pervaded the landscape of the Nigerian State. Due to these various challenges, it has become very difficult for some Nigerians to see the country as truly their own. Rather, there is that suspicion of one tribe, out smarting the other in the centre politics. Thus, patriotism is geared towards ethnic inclination than for the country. It is tribal patriotism rather than Nigerian patriotism. Thus, Frightful Patriotism is the declining flagship of the singular background of each adult Nigerian. Although this book does not see every Nigerian as not being unpatriotic, it strives to come up with a holistic realistic suspicion that is readily displayed in the violent and non-violent conflicts that come up periodically.

Before looking at the necessary elements of peace resolutions in Nigeria, it is important to examine some terms that would be seen in this chapter.

Conceptual Clarifications

The Concepts that are likely to create some vagueness are; frightful, conflict, conflict management, patriotism, mediation, dialogue, reconciliation, National Security, economic, recession and federalism.

Frightful

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition for frightful is causing intense fear or alarm, something very terrifying. It is something alarming, dire, dreadful and fearsome. In this book, the context is used to deride the fear that greets what is supposed to be undaunted patriotism to the Nigerian statehood. It is used to qualify the extent of commitment to the progress of the state.

Conflicts

Conflict in a lay man’s understanding is to hit or use a kind of force against one another. It could further in a communal setting mean to go into minor or serious violent conflict between one village with another village for perhaps reasons such as encroaching into each other’s land. However, more profoundly, it could mean to fight with an enemy. Conflict was originally used to mean strike at another, to fight with an enemy or to do battle with an opposing force. Today, it similarly means to be antagonistic towards others or to be in sharp disagreement with others. The ability to successfully manage conflict within oneself and between persons reduces antagonism, disagreement and hatred. How a person manages his inner conflicts has a great impact on how he lives and relates with others. A person, who manages inner conflicts well, tends to transfer his ability and emotional strength to his associates. This is why one advocates that it is very important for those on mediation to learn how to manage their inner conflicts in a positive way before they try to help manage others’ conflicts.

Conflict Resolution

Miller (2003) posits that conflict resolution is a variety of approaches aimed at terminating conflicts through the constructive solving of problems, distinct from management or transformation of conflict (p. 8). For Mial and Wood House (2001), by conflict resolution, it is expected that the deep-rooted sources of conflict are addressed and resolved, and behaviour is no longer violent, nor are attitude hostile any longer, while structure of the conflict has been changed. In the understanding of Mitchel and Banks (1996), conflict resolution refers to: In all this, one understands conflict resolution to imply that conflict is bad hence it is something that should not be encouraged. It also assumes that conflict is a short-term phenomenon that can be resolved permanently through mediation or other intervention processes. Best (2005) putting these ideas together, concludes that: From the point of view of needs, a conflict is resolved when the basic needs of parties involved have been met with necessary satisfiers, and their fears have been allayed. Others like those over values according to an outcome in which the issues in an existing conflict are satisfactorily dealt with through a solution that is mutually acceptable to the parties, self-sustaining in the long run and productive of a new, positive relationship between parties that were previously hostile adversaries; and process or procedure by which such an outcome is achieved (p. 21). In principle, conflict resolution connotes a sense of finality, where the parties to a conflict are mutually satisfied with the outcome of a settlement and the conflict is resolved in a true sense of it. Some conflicts, especially those over resources, are permanently resolvable (p. 94). Best (2005), may be non-resolvable and can at best be transformed, regulated or managed (p. 95).

Conflict Management

Miller (2003) posits that conflict resolution is a variety of approaches aimed at terminating conflicts through the constructive solving of problems, distinct from management or transformation of conflict (p. 8). For Mial and Wood House (2001), by conflict resolution, it is expected that the deeply-rooted sources of conflict are addressed and resolved, and behaviour is no longer violent, nor are attitude hostile any longer, while structure of the conflict has been changed. In the understanding of Mitchel and Banks (1996), conflict resolution refers to: In all this, one understands conflict resolution to imply that conflict is bad hence it is something that should not be encouraged. It also assumes that conflict is a short-term phenomenon that can be resolved permanently through mediation or other intervention processes. Best (2005) putting these ideas together, concludes that: From the point of view of needs, a conflict is resolved when the basic needs of parties involved have been met with necessary satisfiers, and their fears have been allayed. Others like those over values, according to an outcome in which the issues in an existing conflict are satisfactorily dealt with through a solution that is mutually acceptable to the parties, self-sustaining in the long run and productive of a new, positive relationship between parties that were previously hostile adversaries; and process or procedure by which such an outcome is achieved (p. 21). In principle, conflict resolution connotes a sense of finality, where the parties to a conflict are mutually satisfied with the outcome of a settlement and the conflict is resolved in a true sense of it. Some conflicts, especially those over resources, are permanently resolvable (p. 94). Best (2005), may be non-resolvable and can at best be transformed, regulated or managed, (p. 95).

Mediation

Mediation could be described as the voluntary, informal, non-binding process undertaken by an external party that fosters the settlement of differences or demands between directly interested parties. Miall et al (1999) support this description by seeing mediation as, the intervention of a third party; it is a voluntary process in which the parties retain control over the outcome (pure mediation), although it may include positive and negative inducements (mediation with muscle) (p. 22). Mediation, therefore, is understood and taken as assistance by a third party (mediator) where the parties to a conflict admit that they are both committed to solving, but in which the mediator manages a negotiation process, but does not impose a solution on the parties. It is purely a voluntary process. Mediation is a common skill that many people have, but which they hardly realize they do. Simply put, the role of a mediator is to create the enabling environment for the parties to carry out dialogue sessions leading to the resolution of a pending conflict. He works on communication between parties. He is simply a reconciler.

Dialogue

Dialogue has been utmost in conflict resolutions over the years. It basically has to do with discussion over peaceful settlements of disputes. The third party in the settlement of the dispute is the arbiter as he listens to both parties and tries to ensure that his judgment is to the interest of both parties to the conflict. In this type of conflict resolution, it is not absolutely a win-win approach as the truth must be told and blame leveled on the side that has done wrong. However, there is no hard and fast rule on whether it is necessary for both parties to abide by the judgment. In such a situation, the parties can either go to court or decide to go through other source of conflict resolutions.

Patriotism

This according to the Oxford dictionary, is ‘the quality of being patriotic, devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.’

Most Nigerians have developed the attitude of ‘No love’ for the Nigerian Nation. This is more common among the youth and the younger generation. Promoting Nationalism is attempting to bring to the fore the social values and integrity that makes any nation great. Unfortunately, nationalism and patriotism were not properly instilled in the psyche of the people. This has led to the individualization as well ethnic affiliation of most Nigerians. Not long after independence, religious affiliation began to take a co-role with ethnicity. This made the polity suspicious depending on who was at the helm of affairs of the country. The inception of the 4th Republic is a case in point in which to pacify the South West for the annulment of the June 12th Presidential election which Chief MKO Abiola was said to have won a land slide victory across the country, President Obasanjo was released from jail and made to run the presidential ticket for the Peoples’ Democratic Party which he won eventually.

Reconciliation

This according to the Oxford dictionary is ‘the restoration of friendly relations, reuniting or reunion.’ In any form of conflict, there are measures to settle the problem. Political reconciliation, does follow the same path which could be a shift from violent conflict to a more intense politically motivated armed conflict. However, for peace and real reconciliation to take place there must be a genuine political reconciliation process. This would require a recognized context which would make way for reconciliation to take place.

The Nigerian Oputa Panel which took a leaf from the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was an example of a reconciliatory effort. Although the Nigerian Oputa Panel did not provide the platform for true reconciliation, the TRC achieved some remarkable efforts. This is because it created opportunities for collective and personal reconciliation. Essentially, it offered a platform for reconciliation and forgiveness on the part of the politicians for the so called long military brutality and abuse of human rights which were very appropriate liberal demands. It was therefore, necessary for a true quest for forgiveness on the part of the culprit. On the issue of political violent conflict, the reconciliation would require more profound accountability on the issue and the price that follows true forgiveness. The Rwanda armed conflict is a case in point.

National Security

Any Sovereignty that does not have a strong military might would be prone to possible external as well as internal security challenges. Although there is no universally accepted definition for National Security, it is the need to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of economic, military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy. Essentially, it is the freedom from military threat which would require political coercion in the furtherance of military capabilities and assets.

Arbitration

One of the elements of Peace Resolution is the process of Arbitration. It is a type of means to settle disputes just like Negotiation, Mediation, Reconciliation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). It could be used either for local or cross border dispute resolutions. Arbitration is the most preferred aspect of ADR. It is that steps taken to resolve disputes between states using the Internal Law Commission. It is the voluntary process that parties in conflict take to resolves contending matters. It requires the use of a third party with formal mandate from the disputing parties to resolve the matter. The arbitrator conducts himself like a judge and his decisions have legal binding and must be respected by the disputing parties.

Economic Recession

This is the deplorable decline in the economic strength of a nation, company or industry. Economic misery which is an offshoot of a nearly economic collapse has been a major challenge that the Nigerian government has to contend with amid pressing security challenges. The Nigerian economy is in dare need for direction and focus from many years of battered economic degradation and decay. With the global collapse in world oil prices some years past, and the coronavirus pandemic, it became quite unfortunate that the many years of over dependence on oil has had a destructive consequence. The two-time economic recession experienced between 2015 and 2020 respectively have grossly affected business both locally and internationally in Nigeria.

Important Elements of Peace Resolutions

There are certain elements that are ingredients for Peace Resolutions. Prominent among them is the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This has made the effort towards peace resolutions easier and quicker to achieve especially in a world where anarchy resulting from violent conflicts have led to the destruction of lives and properties on a daily basis.

Aternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

There are some elements that are very useful in Peace Resolutions. Significant among them is the Alternative Dispute Resolution. These among others are the various dispute management techniques that are embedded in Peace Resolutions. It has to do with a neutral third-party intervention. Alternative Dispute Resolution requires the use of all forms of conflict management mechanisms which are not the court process. These includes, negotiation, mediation and arbitration. However, it is important to note that the principal ADR processes remain mediation and arbitration (Goldbery et al, 1992). It creates a systematic and professional ways through which third party neutrality can use opportunities to promote a viable joint problem solving. This could further