CONFLICT AND SECURITY MANAGEMENT
The agencies concerned with the management of security and conflicts in Nigeria (the police, the judiciary and the prisons) are not doing enough to stem the tide of insecurity and conflicts, particularly in terms of effective and efficient management. This has led to the upsurge and recurrence of political, ethnic and religious conflicts and the bringing about of a general atmosphere of insecurity. The people's loss of confidence in the security agencies was reported by the oldest and most authoritative government owned newspaper in Northern Nigeria, the New Nigerian newspaper. The 7th February 2004 edition of paper conducted interviews with people from all parts of the country on the political crisis in Anambra State and concluded that,
"Both the police and the judiciary were not spared at all. It is obvious that the people have little confidence in the police and the lower courts. They (the police and the courts) seem to have elevated personal interests over and above national interests".
The peoples' dissatisfaction with the national security situation was equally amplified in a debate by the Honourable Members of the Federal House of Representatives and was reported by one of the leading private newspapers in Nigeria, the Daily Trust, of 5th March, 2004, as follows:-
"In the subsequent debate, that lasted almost two hours, the law makers passed a vote of no confidence in the police and the entire nation's security apparatus".
This book examined the role played by traditional rulers in security and conflict management before, during and after colonial rule in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on Hausaland. It also demonstrated and proposed how traditional institutions, as custodians of the people's culture and tradition, could contribute positively in resolving conflicts in the society, as well as enhancing the issues of transparency, equity and fairness in conflict and security management and in the execution of general developmental programmes.
The following excerpts from two powerful organs fully justify and support this publication:-
"Traditional rulers should be given due recognition in the constitution (of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) in that their duties, functions and responsibilities should be beyond their symbolic and ceremonial activities. These functions and responsibilities, which include general security, religious matters, traditional and cultural issues should be enshrined in the constitution. In this connection, it is suggested that the relevant sections of the 1995 Draft Constitution relating to the traditional rulers/institutions should be lifted and incorporated in the new constitution"
Above is an extract from a memo submitted to the Presidential Technical Committee on the Review of Local Government Structure by the Northern States Emirs and Chiefs in August 2003. Another extract from a memo submitted to the same Technical Committee by the Arewa Consultative Forum stated that,
"Regardless of recent events, traditional institutions and traditional rulers still have the potential and capacity for effective mobilization of the people, maintaining law and order as well as security functions. The brutal reforms of 1967 did them damage and placed them in an insidious position. Further reforms, especially from 1976 to date, have deepened their predicament……. We note, however, that their decline and neglect also placed the modern system, its functionaries and the Northern social system under destructive influence if not into total anarchy. Reflect on the prevalence of armed robbery, gang rape among youths including those in schools and colleges, teenage pregnancies, burglaries, drug trafficking, cultism and indifferent, incipient violence and the picture becomes clearer……. One way (of solving these problems) is to re-orient and sanitize these (traditional) institutions and restore some of their relevance……. We recommend to the Presidential Technical Committee to consider re-visiting the Draft 1995 Constitution with a view to re-instating those provisions (relating to traditional rulers) in the 1999 Constitution."
Given the continued rise in the wave of religious and ethnic conflicts and the worsening of the security situation in Nigeria, it has become imperative for the nation to explore all avenues that will enhance conflict resolution thereby improving the security situation. Traditional rulers could easily provide that veritable tool for the enhancement of peace, security, stability and subsequent development of this potentially great Nation.
Colonialists had to use traditional rulers to consolidate their indirect rule. The politicians always needed them to stabilize their governments. The military used to rush to them in order to gain acceptance. They were always drafted to douse conflicts whenever the police, the military and the government officials failed. They are, therefore, an asset in conflict and security management, as amply demonstrated in this book.
