International Journal of Political Science and Development
 

International Journal of Political Science and Development

Vol. 4(8), pp. 301–314, December, 2016. 

DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2016.053

ISSN: 2360-784X

Research Paper

Elites and Conflict in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Niger Delta Insurgency

Ahmed Babatunde Adeosun*^1,2 Dr Norafidah Ismail³ and Dr Knocks Tapiwa Zengeni³

¹College of Administration and Management Studies, Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic,

P.M.B. 5004, kazaure, Jigawa, State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author’s E-mail: babsadeosun90@gmail.com

²Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government, law & International Studies, School of International Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia.

³School of International Studies, COLGIS, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok,             Kedah State

Accepted 3 October 2016

The Elites in any given society play a significant role in the development, management and resolution of conflict in such society. The political and other elites in the Nigerian state, especially in the troubled Niger Delta region of Nigeria are expected to do the same. However, this seems not to be the case as this study would show. In the last two decades, the oil belt of Nigeria had been engulfed by violence. The inhabitants of the region were demanding for better deal from the central government in terms of development of the region, provision of social amenities, employment for the teeming youth of the region, among others. This paper examined the role the elites, particularly those from the region had played in furthering and sustaining the conflict in the region. The paper provided answers as to how transparent and accountable were the elites in the management of the resources of the region. The paper argued that the elites did not judiciously manage the resource of the region and this had contributed to poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment of the region which had exacerbated conflict in the region. The paper recommended, among others, the recruitment and subsequent elections of people of worthy character or integrity into office who would judiciously manage the limited resources of the region, development of the region by all tiers of government, among others. The paper adopted historical, descriptive and analytical methods by relying on secondary sources of data, such as books, journals, periodicals, newspapers and internet materials.

Key words: Elite, Conflict, Nigeria, Niger Delta, Insurgency

 

Cite This Article As: Adeosun AB, Ismail N, Zengeni KT (2016). Elites and Conflict in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Niger Delta Insurgency. Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop. 4(8): 301-314

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