Copyright (C) 2009. General Studies Division.
First Published: 2009
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright
owners.
PRINTED AT
UNILORIN PRESS
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN
ii
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
iii
Preface
iv
Table of Contents
v-vi
1.
State Formation in Africa
i
B.O. Ibrahim
2
The Place of Culture in Plurral Societies Joseph O. Fayeye
Issues in Fundamental Human Rights
17
A. Yusuf
3
Ethical Issues in Contemporary Nigerian Society
25
Isaac Olakanmi Abimbola
4
The Philosophy of Peace and Conflict Studies in
Nigerian Universities
37
Rotimi Omotoye
6
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills for Dealing with Three
Critical Problems Confronting Students on Campus
42
J.A. Omotosho
7
Curbing Examination Dishonesty Through Values Education 53
A. Jekayinfa
8
Religion and Proliferation of Fellowships in the Nigerian
Tertiary Institutions
63
A. M. Okorie
9
HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse Education
71
Alfred A. Adegoke
10
The Role of Dialogue in Peace and Conflict Resolution
83
Jide Ige
11
Trends in the History of Science and Technology
89
R. A. Olaoye
12
Communication: The Nucleus of National Development
100
Sola Timothy Babatunde
iii
THE ROLE OF DIALOGUE IN PEACE AND CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
Jide Ige
Department of History, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
INTRODUCTION
This paper examines the role of Dialogue in Peace and Conflict Resolution.
The need to examine the role has become necessary in view of the feet that the world
in general needs peace for development. Also, it is pertinent to note that all over the
world, there seems to be one form of conflict or the other, although varied in nature
and dimension. Irrespective of the variation and nature (including physical war),
conflict has usually made the world unsafe for human beings and by extension has
impeded the development of both capital and material resources both of which are
necessary for human welfare.
In the light of the above, it has become imperative to seek peace by resolving
conflict. One important mechanism which has become almost inevitable in conflict
resolution is dialogue. In actual fact, dialogue has become a recurring word in conflict
resolution.
Dialogue is used in this paper to refer to a "conversation" or discussion
between two or more persons involved in a conflict'. Dialogue enables the parties
involved in a conflict to enter into a formal discussion in order to end a dispute. To
come to an agreement by the parties in some cases may require each party to give one
form of concession or the other.
On the other hand, conflict can be described as the opposite of peace. Tha s.
when there is conflict, there is usually violence. In a conflict situation, threat fear,
anxiety and general insecurity become the order of the day. Indeed, conflict occurs
when a group's interest tries to override another groups interest2. When this type of
situation arises, the more powerful group would frustrate the needs of the weaker
group. This is why conflict occurs at family, community, state, regional and
international levels. It is to be realized that when there is conflict in one part, the other
part cannot be said to be conflict-free.
Indeed, the prevalence of conflict from the closing decade of the 20* century
up to the opening years of the 21s" century endangers both local and international
peace and security. It should be noted that the peak of conflict is actually expressed in
war (armed conflict)3. Examples of such conflicts include the two world wars and
civil wars in some countries. The cold war and the nuclear threat are conflicts that
could have led to actual war.
For convenience, the paper is divided into sections, namely, general causes of
conflict (violent and non-violent conflict) armed conflict etc; conflict in tertiary
institutions; method of settling disputes; effects of conflict and conclusion.
84
instinct to survive and the instinct to die. This is typical of religious and ethnic
conflicts (religious riots in Ilorin, Kano and Jos; ethnic conflict in Lagos (Hausa and
Yoruba), Ife and Modakeke, Share and Sharagi and between Offa and Erin-He.
Furthermore, conflict occurs when there is the feeling of deliberate frustration.
This occurs when one group (apparently the dominant group) decides to starve to
submission another group. The frustrated group would claim that it has been denied
of legitimate demand.
In schools and colleges (including tertiary institutions), conflict often occurs
between authorities and students over certain demand (water, food, electricity,
removal of subsidy, school fees etc. When such demands are not met, students go on
rampage and engage in actual demonstration, damaging school property and making
life generally unsafe on campus.
Similarly, injustice in the distribution of amenities by Government or those in
positions of authority cause conflict. It must be added that economic, political and
social injustice are capable of causing and escalating conflict. The feeling that justice
was not given to the Germans at Versailles in 1919 contributed to the outbreak of the
Second War in 1939'°. In other words, when the more powerful group refuses to do
justice there is reaction from the group that suffers the denial. Consequently, the two
groups would enter into conflict.
Another cause of conflict is entrepreneurship. That is, those who earn their
living or who profit from conflict situations may deliberately cause conflict. Example
of this situation can be found among religious and war mercenaries. Example can also
be drawn in the Niger-Delta area where some people have become professional
trouble-shooters. Such people cause, fuel and prolong conflict, believing that the
more prolonged the crisis the more profit they would make from it.
Beside, the need to protest or proclaim group identity can cause conflict
especially if the right to do so is denied them. A case in point is the Movement of the
Survival of Ogoni People. Furthermore, conflict occurs when people fail to respect
constitutional authorities. For instance, when students refuse to obey or respect some
rules and regulations including dress code, cheating in examinations, cultic activities,
joining unregistered clubs and associations. Attempt to enforce the law on the part of
the authority would bring conflict. When there is forced migration coupled with
population explosion, conflict would occur in an attempt to control the population, m
schools, conflict occurs when facilities are overstretched and consequently are
inadequate. Such inadequacy of facilities may cause conflict.
Borrowing example from the face-off between Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government and the Nigerian Union of
Teachers (NUT) and Federal Government, conflict appears inevitable when one part
fails to fulfill its promises. Unfulfilled promises have also caused crisis between the
Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government. This was in respect of
15% increase in salary as well as the removal of subsidy on petroleum. More
examples of unfulfilled promises have caused conflict between Government and
unions including NBA, NM A, PENGASS AN. NUPENG etc.
Further still, land or boundary adjustment is one of the factors that bring
conflict. There are examples of this situation in Africa (Eriteria and Ethiopia, Algeria
85
86
COMMUNICATION
Improved Communication between those involved in a conflict can promote
dispute resolution. Communication would facilitate information sharing.
COLLABORATION
This method involves joint projects such as sharing schools, health centres,
markets, bridges and other public utilities. Having common or sharing projects,
promotes mutual understanding and this is why it happens at both local and
international levels. For example, we have the Chad Basin project and the NigeriaCameroon project.
NEGOTIATION
Negotiation requires "give and take" which would be agreed to by all parties
involved in a conflict.
MEDIATION
This involves the role of a third party to provide enabling environment for the
parties involved in a conflict to enter into dialogue. This is similar to conciliatory role
of a third party to ensure peaceful resolution.
ARBITRATION
This involves the intervention of a third party in bringing about peaceful
resolution. The third party is usually a neutral party. Here we have Judicial Panel.
Commission of Inquiry etc.
CONCLUSION
The concluding remark is that irrespective of method employed in dispute
resolution, dialogue remains an accepted global method of conflict resolution. To
avoid conflict or to resolve conflict, calls for good governance. Good governance will
ensure maintenance of law and order, accountability and transparency, due process,
the rule of law, separation and devolution of power, respect of human rights and civil
society organizations and quick positive response of State to community interest.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
1.
Kirkpatrick, E.M (ed) Chamber Universal Learners' Dictionary Spectrum
BookLtd.Ibadan,2001
2.
Burton John. Deviance, Terrorism and War: The Process of Solving
Unsolved Social and Political Problems, Macmillan, London, 1979
3.
Shedrack Gaya B. (ed); Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies in West
Africa: A Reader: Ibadan, Spectrum Book Ltd, (n.d).
4.
Alkasum Aba et al, The Nigeria Economic Crisis: Causes and Solution,
Academic Staff Union of University of Nigeria, 1955
5.
The Aborted 2006 Constitutional Conference was because members
87
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
disagreed on a percentage of all revenue that should go to the oil producing
areas.
Ogunsanwo, A "Good Governance, Democracy and Civil Society" in Ogunba
(ed). The Empowerment of the Civil Society in Democracy, Nigeria and the
U.S.A; Anchor, Ile-Ife
International Court of Justice intervened and asked Nigeria to cede Bakassi to
the Camerron
Anifowose, Remi; Violence and Politics in Nigeria: The Yoritba and Tiv
Experience. New York Publishers, 1982. The issue of power shift or power
rotation has become a common word in the present democratic dispensation in
Nigeria.
Margaret P. Consensus and Conflict in African Societies; An Introduction to
Sociology Longman 1977
Taylor A.J.P . Origins of the Second World War, Penguin Books Limited,
England 1963.
88