Conflict

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In today’s class, we will be talking about conflict. Enjoy the class!

Conflict

Conflict can be simply defined as misunderstanding or disagreement between two or more people. Conflict arises as people interact in their families, workplace, offices, social clubs, communities and countries. Conflict occurs sometimes due to lack of cooperation.

As a nation, Nigeria has witnessed many conflicts. For instance, the civil war between 1967 and 1970 seriously threatened the existence of Nigeria as a nation Other past conflicts in Nigeria were informed of students riots, inter-tribal wars (Ife-Modakeke war), religious riots particularly in the north (Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi etc), workers strikes and protests, electoral protests leading to burning of valuable properties and destruction of lives.

Causes of conflicts

Conflicts can be caused by any of the

1. Selfishness: Selfishness often goes with cheating This will normally generate conflict because the person cheated will negatively react to claim what belongs to him
2. Lack of cooperation: Failure to work as a team often leads to disagreement, misunderstanding and division.
3. Bad leadership: When leaders are greedy, selfish and insensitive to people’s plight and suffering there is bound to be conflict People will revolt through violent protests to show their displeasure. This has been the reason for many students riot in Nigeria, particularly during the military era.
4. Lack of religious tolerance: Religion should normally produce peace in the society Conflict arises where religious groups do not tolerate one another. A fight over which religion is the best and tend to impose a particular religion on everybody has created so much conflict in Nigeria.
5. Communication gap: When needed information is not supplied at the right time conflict may arise. Due to lack of communication, there will be suspicion and possibly rumour-mongering,
6. Indolence and inefficiency: If laziness and inefficiency are noticed in some people in a group, the diligent ones are likely to protest. This occurs where they receive the same pay and the indolent ones receive more recognition or promotion than the hardworking ones.
7. Criminal activities: Criminal acts such as kidnapping, murder, fraud, immorality will cause serious conflict within a group in the society

Effects of conflict in society

1. Break down of law and order: Conflict always results in riots, fighting which give room for looting and all sorts of lawlessness.
2. Loss of lives and properties: Violent conflicts normally lead to burning of public and private buildings vehicles markets etc Many precious lives have been lost through various protest communal wars, religious violence, election protests and so on
3. Insecurity: Conflicts create insecurity in the Society. Many people from the south are always scared of travelling or living in some parts of the north because of the fear of sudden eruption of violence.
4. Slow progress in the society: Conflict is a great clog to development in the society, for instance, funds that could have been used to execute new developmental projects will be used in repairing or rebuilding public houses destroyed during riots and wars. Conflict always brings set back to economic, political and social development.
5. Disunity: People who are always at loggerhead with one another can hardly be united. They cannot work together to achieve anything tangible

Conflict resolution

Conflicts can be resolved in the following ways:

1. Dialogue: The opposing sides can come together to discuss how to end their feud. Usually, a third party mediates between the opposing parties to bring peace to the community.
2. The Law Court: Conflicts can be resolved by using legal methods. The two sides employ lawyers who present their cases in court after which judgment is given. Where one of the sides does not agree with the judgment, they have the freedom to appeal to the high court and possibly to the Supreme Court whose judgment will be the final.
3. The Police: Conflicts between individuals in the community can be reported to the police for their prompt intervention. The public is free to report to the police and other law-enforcement agent’s religious disagreements that could escalate into violence and destruction of lives and properties. Minor clashes between families, friends and colleagues could be reported to police for their intervention.
   

4. Government Intervention: Where there are serious communal clashes, the government can set up a special panel to mediate between the two warring communities Government can also send the police to enforce peace in such area Government also intervenes in student riots and protests by sending anti-riot policemen to quash such riots and protests.
5. Family or Village Head: Conflicts within a family are usually settled by the family head Where it involves two or more families, such cases are normally settled by the village head. For instance, the Baale in Yoruba land settles all matters within a village. The same applies to many communities in Nigeria.
6. Wars: This is a negative way of resolving conflict. It destroys lives and properties before a solution is eventually found. The more powerful side wins the war while the other side surrenders. This was the case during the Nigerian civil war between 1967 and 1970. the Nigerian army overpowered the Biafra side, and eventually, the war ended in favour of Nigeria.

 

In our next class, we will be talking about Environmental Problem.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

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