Understanding Youth Conflict And Sustainable Initiative Model (Part 1)

Conflict is a natural phenomenon, it is as old asselfish, non visionary, insensitive to the youths and
mankind, and conflict is a state of discord causedhave killed in them every sense of patriotism and
by the actual or perceived opposition of needs,nationalism.
values and interests. A conflict can be internalThe purpose of this book is to provide an
(within oneself) or external (between two oradvocacy channel in the removal of every
more individuals). Conflict as a concept can helpobstacle to foreign investment inherent in the
explain many aspects of social life such as socialindigenization decree, which is a part of the
disagreement, conflicts of interests, and fightsconstitutional concurrent list of states' fundamental
between individuals, groups, or organizations.rights in the country; liberalize further the
Conflicts in social settings can result to stress oreconomy, reduce unemployment to its barest
tensions among stakeholders, seen as workingminimum and move the nation out of its
towards certain goals. When interpersonal conflictseconomic quagmire.
occur, its effect is often broader than twoThe present administration's policies on the
individuals involved, and can affect collectiveapplication of the 7 point Agenda is a challenge to
individual needs and relationships in more or lessthe youths of Rivers State, Beyelsa, Edo, Ondo
adverse and sometimes even humorous way.and elsewhere in other parts of Niger Delta, the
Conflict is one of the major concerns not only inEast and South-South geo-political zones;
any given continent, it also affect the internationalunderpinning this administration and its successive
community as well. Conflict is simply the absenceones, several methods of political card-scoring
of peace, and the successive introduction oftechniques have been initiated. The masses have
diversify sense of humor of people within thethrown their support on this current Yar 'Adua
context of a community or society. If this is theJonathan Administration as they have collectively,
case then, what are the root causes of conflict?with all hands on deck pulled down
Let me approach this issue from an Africananti-progressive structures in our country that at
viewpoint, especially with the Niger Delta Area ofbest serve the interest of a few at the expense
Nigeria as a case study. Conflict does not meanof the majority.
people engaging in riots, or situation of economicIt is paramount to note that few things in the
inhumanity or the expression of calculatedscheme of things is required to galvanize
grievances, conflict could be within a person.development in the nation, through the execution
Regardless of the nature of conflict, whetherof three (3) or at least four (4) of the overall
within or without transcends our mere study ofnumber 7-plus-2-point Agenda, and as long as
individualized conflict escalation.governance is concern the masses actually do not
Scholars, peace and security experts, and conflicthave a clue on bent economic, political and
management professionals have brainstormed onsocio-political issues in terms of development. This
several recurrent and perpetuated conflictsmay be in their crude state, yet we cannot
involving the Ageing, youths and the Government.underscore the economic importance of the
Answers to this has been quite cumbersome; theyouth so far in Mr. President's 7 point Agenda
least in mind includes but not limited to thepolicy.
following:o Inadequate Resourceso EnvironmentalNigerians' hope for better patriotic governance is
and economic degeneration etc.o Communalyet to come, but we must all work out modalities
attitudeso Social and economic dilemmaso Unevencollectively towards sustaining our democracy and
distribution of scare resourceso Environmentalundivided federalism. The case is half solved if this
degradation and spillso Government'sadministration through its think-tank is able to
lukewarmness in community and Arielcombine all technical and academic scholarship in
developmentso Lack of Social Infrastructuresresult reaching goals. Non governmental
etc.o Boundaries Problemso Inter/intra communalorganization, International donor agencies and
clashesMultinational Corporation can also share in the
It is true that after a young man/womanoverall implementations of the MDGs and the
complete his/her studies, the expectation is to7-point Agenda; instead of hiding in the shadows
get a job and start well in their various careers. Aof dirty politics. While donor agencies, NGOs and
government that denies the timid and allprivate philanthropic Organisation have be praised
encompassing youths these adequate supports,for a job well done in several communities, a
entrepreneurial guidance and civil liberties; thehandful of multi-national organization have received
outcome in most cases have always resulted tosuch recommendation in terms of civil/corporate
nationwide or sectarian violence, militancy andresponsibilities.
piracy. When expectations are high andIt is time we shake off this dust of stupidity,
strategically become impossible such as unavailableconcentrate on our economy, politics, society,
access to resources; resultant outcome couldculture and people, other than going through an
emanates to sequential riots, theft just tounfortunate marigold of our national taboo. While
mention a few. Sickness can cause conflict78% of Nigerian may claim the "it is well"
especially from within an individual. In an instancesyndrome, many Nigerians are of the nation that
where people get ill and cannot afford properour national development is eminent, without this
Medicare or inability to access available treatmentsour long-protected federalism is in jeopardy and
within the area, internal crisis evolves and this isthe foundation of our people; in terms of unity
called "the Preliminary stage of conflict".and peace may linger anti-clockwise.
A clash of interests, values, actions or directionsTHE PARADOX OF NIGER-DELTA CRISIS.
often sparks a conflict; a conflict refers to theI may fail in my hypothesis to typically equate the
existence of that clash. Psychologically, conflictsum-total of the overall reality principles of
exists when the reduction of one motivatingpoverty, and wealth in correspondence with their
stimulus result to an increase in another, thataggravating limits in the Nigeria socio-economic
requires new set of variable adjustment in needsdynamics. A lot of our activities in societies today
and characteristic factors. A potential conflictcan be defined by a sharp series of limitation on
situation does imply that there is already a conflictevery living thing, at least those with corporate
of direction, even though a clash may not yetexistence; the final boundary being death.
have occurred. Conflict however depicts, in aIn the ideal world of matter, we only have so
crude and academic parlance, a naturalmuch energy to expend before our strength are
disagreement resulting from individuals or groupsgone or where we get tired, only so much in the
that differ in attitudes, beliefs, values or needs. Itway of food and resources is available to us; our
is needless to note that there are varying causesskills and capacities can go only so far. Every one
of conflict, some of which are indicative andof us lives within the aforementioned limits, both
known, while others are synergic andthe poor and the wealthy, in fact every living
morphological.thing in the animal world live within this threshold.
Some basic way to deal with conflicts, apart fromWhat differentiates us from animals is that while
its detailed analysis in our preceding chapters canwe are colossal replica of sufficient reason for our
be based on the following:existence, and while we may have all the
- Accommodation - surrender one's own needsnecessary reason bequeathed to all of the
and wishes to accommodate the other party.essential monads (we being subjects containing
- Avoidance- avoid or postpone conflict bypredicates). Though animals too have the same,
ignoring it, changing the subject, etc. avoidanceyet minor sufficient monads for existence. It does
can be useful as a temporary measure to buynot try to fly higher or run faster or expend
time or as an expedient means of dealing withendless energies amassing a pile of food (or in the
very minor, non-recurring conflicts. In morecase of man wealth), for that would exhaust it
severe cases, conflict avoidance can involveand leave it vulnerable to attack and other forms
severing a relationship or leaving a group.of degeneration and degradation. It simply tries to
- Collaboration - work together to find a mutuallymake the most of what it has. A monkey, for
beneficial solution to conflict, this has to be built oninstance, instinctively practices an economy of
an appropriate trust, respect or communicationmotion and jumping, yet never wasting effort.
among participants.The above behooves the state of poverty, and
- Compromise - find a middle ground in whichthe hypothesis we have exhausted so far
each party is partially satisfied.explains all the exemplary variables, and their
- Positive competition asserting one's viewpoint atawareness of their limits, forced to make the
the potential expense of another can be usefulmost of what they have, they are endlessly
when achieving one's objectives outweighs one'sinventive without efforts, yet accurate motion.
concern for the relationship. It is quite importantNecessity has a powerful effect in their creativity.
that these competences need to be built amongAlthough the wealthy and affluent have course to
the young generation to enable them to makeremain contented, nevertheless the rich also cry,
rational decisions.and they suffer much by virtue of the
Youth violence is a result of the high percentagenecessitated ignorance of their limits. The problem
of unemployment. Young people today in variousface by the rich and wealthy that live in a society
facets of the Nigerian Economic and theof abundance is that they some times in more
socio-political life are normally misused by politicianthan 92% variation lose a sense of limit. They are
especially during electoral campaign period for theircarefully shielded from death, misery, pains,
selfish and political gains. The best way to curbtroubles etc, and pass months, even years,
violence is to educate youths and young people inwithout contemplating those regulating limits. The
non-violence and in their rights as individuals andrich imagine endless time at their disposal and
the need to embrace peace. They should beslowly drift further from reality; they imagine
empowered on the importance of protecting theirendless energy drawn to their fantasies and
country against misuse by political bigwigs to gaintestacy, thinking they can get what they want
political mileage and cause ethnic divisions.simply by trying harder - by virtue of this analysis
MASSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT QUAGMIREI am a living witness.
Nigerians, and the youth in particular are vexed byAn accurate example can be drawn using the
issues of massive unemployment andvariances that exist in most societies in the Niger
underemployment across the Niger Delta. It is notDelta; I have been of several impoverished
that they are ignorant of it nor of its attendantcommunities in the Niger Delta Oil Producing
socio-economic dehumanization of people acrossCommunities, what anyone will see is usually
the nation but to inform the present governmentdisheartening, only seen in movies and textbooks;
that the time has come to make it a nationalyet the poverty in this places caused by high level
experience of the past and no more of theconspiracy between the federal government,
present. Statistics abound in the records of theMultinational corporations, state government, local
World Bank, Transparency International and othergovernment, political jobbers and mediocre in high
Monitoring International Organizations of theplaces, the 'who's who' in Nigeria, the oil magnet,
alarming rate of unemployment in the country.the boy that does the dirty work, and the
There is no need to go into intellectual andblue-bloods etc. while the poor or the inhabitant of
statistical exercise in this discussion, but to put thisthese communities suffers the consequence of
matter raw as there are numerous victims of thisthe spillage and economic sabotage done to the
quagmire in the area, whom I have personallyplaces in the name of federalism or the 'one
interviews before anything else. Over 60% ofNigeria ' syndrome, yet this obsession and greed
Niger Delta active and highly productivehas thwarted justices and fairness even within the
populations are out of employment.ambit of the constitution of the federal republic of
Since 1982 there has been overt embargo onNigeria.
Federal and State government employment. ThinkThe Federal structure and their unholy romance
of the army of youths graduating fromwith the conspirators have fashioned a new
secondary and tertiary institutions that are shutname, a ceasefire roll call for the aggrieved
out of jobs bearing in mind that the low level and(Militants) groups of Niger Delta; they nick-named
degradable state of industrialization naturallycalled "Amnesty". Those very wealthy people who
makes Government the highest employer ofperpetrated this necessary evil, (one can't blame
labour. Even children born in 1983 up to 1990s arethem) have begun to see everything as limitless
now men and women enlisted involuntarily into thethe goodwill of friends and their perpetrators, the
army of the unemployed and socio-economicallypossibilities of wealth and fame. The question is,
dehumanized of Nigeria. As citizens of this greatwho does really need the Amnesty; those
nation, an average Nigerian consciousness hassabotaging or those whose land and prosperity
been thwarted, and has now become citizens ofare being sabotaged?
an otherwise resource rich country. This is theThe rich possesses more classes and books and
irony of Nigerians, yet we stifle like the poorestthey can extend their talents and skills to the
nations in Africapoints where they become different people.
The private sector was a viable employer ofTechnology can make everything achievable, with
labour until the early 1980s when Nigeria's hugetheir obsession exceeding the limit of conscience
trade deficit and international debt burdens literallyand justice. Their thoughts have transformed the
shut off importation of vital raw materials forgoodwill in them into the worst form of barbarity
production. Gradually many otherwise buoyantand inhumanity against their countrymen. They
companies either folded up or staggered on farhave exceeded their limits to the threshold of
below their productive capacity. The inevitableignorance; to a height of murder; assassination,
consequence of this was mass retrenchment ofgenocide and civil injustice against their fellow
workers and closed doors to fresh employments.citizen simply for a limited resources, which by
Again we dare say that the indigenization Decreeright belong to the inhabitant of same society
as patriotic as it was to a large extent turnedthey intend to annihilate. This facts negates the
over foreign owned businesses to Nigerians butfundamental human right advocated by
failed to consider our experience and technicalTransparency International, it flows into the heart
abilities to profitably run these businesses. Theseof civil liberty and social contract contained in our
businesses went under throwing their employeeshallow Constitution.
into the labour market. In my sustainableSince 1958 Oil in the Niger-Delta has made a lot of
development proposal, I suggested that thewealthy Nigerian especially the Northerners sick
youths of Niger Delta should be engaged throughand psychotic, this schizophrenic tendencies is
skill acquisition institutions and programmes, whichtransmissive and non-contagions. These folks in
should instill in the youth the necessary technicalthe north, west, and east and in the south-south
capacities and manpower.Niger-Delta, who swims in the abundance of oil
Unemployment in the cities has mutually, inclusivehave restored to high level conspiracy with the
of its relationship with the macro economic livesfederal structure in preparatory genocide, this in
of the rural population where statistics which havecollaboration with multinational companies,
shown that majority of Nigerians reside in abjectstrategists in the federal structure the presidency
poverty and economic sagacity. Our ruraland every body in the cartel of national,
population still produces at subsistence level andcontinental and international conspirators. It is now
depends heavily on financial repatriations froma do or die affair, the great mystical political Order
kinsmen and women in the cities to financeand the caretakers of Nigeria cannot claim
education, health care and other financiallyinnocence, they certainly have a clue of the
intensive projects.ongoing national oil crisis, and manslaughter in
To this end, unemployment in the governmentGbaramatu in Delta State. The aforementioned
and the industrial sectors has had multiplier effectare one of the series of abominations, barbarity
on our huge rural population, creating a sourand perpetuated against the Niger-Delta region by
scenario of an idle but virile economic population.the federal government and its cohorts.
Thanks to Nigerians in the European and AmericanApologist may argue on this matter, and will
Diasporas who through thick and thin repatriaterefute any blame levied on the federal
home millions of Pounds and Dollars annually togovernment. A thoughtful reflection on the whole
keep families alive. The consequences of massivescenario will assist us in who carried the huge
unemployment in Nigeria are to say the leastblame, as the communities themselves also share
ominous.in this atrocity, as they recurrently perpetrated
POVERTYself-style economic and environmental degradation
Transparency international in 2005 ranked Nigeriathrough pipe vandal, bombardment of Multinational
as 152 of the world 157 poorest nations, as moreoil companies' facilities operating in the region,
than 50% of Nigerians live under $1 per day.kidnapping and other forms of criminal activities.
There is no blackmail in this as we see sorryAs regard the affluent that have fattened
evidence of poverty in urban and rural areas. Thethemselves with the blood and sweat of the
world bank also estimates that only 1% ofinnocent, and have provoked ethnic violence and
Nigerians benefit from the countries huge oilother religiously motivated conflict across the
revenue, the bulk of our oil revenue end up incountry for seemingly political reasons understand
white elephant projects like the Festival of Artsthe rhetoric to amass wealth. Abundance makes
and Culture embarked upon by the Generalthem swim in dreams, for in dreams there are no
Obasonjo administration in 1977; while others endlimits but the manipulation of grandeur. In reality it
up in frivolous contracts and in private accountsmakes them very poor simply for the
abroad. The FESTAC edifice in Lagos called theunavailability of peace, civil liberty and justice in
National Theater is now a den of Robbers andtheir lives. Instinctively these folks are not happy,
Public toilet. What a waste!and can't move freely. Due to unguided actions
A miserable and unbalanced meal a day is nowand collaboration in the grand conspiracy, have
luxury in most homes, accommodation in urbanlimited their freedom. It makes them soft and
areas is a mirage for most Nigerians, as wedecadent, bored with what they have and in need
cannot afford galloping house rents. Medicare isof constant stocks to remind them that they are
beyond the reach of Nigerians as our dilapidatedalive.
hospitals are mere consultation and prescriptionTHE DUBAI PARADOX
centers. Helpless Nigerians leaves the hospitalsThere is rumored claimed for the actualization of
without money to procure their drugs, some ofthe Vision 202020, which abounds in the present
us before the day go dark, resort to primitiveAdministration's Seven point Agenda. Dubai will
unscientific concoctions and millions die in theserve as a reawakening grip on the phony
process.contained in this administration's theoretical fallacy,
Many of our people who are lucky to secureand may provoke the twist of what development
European and American visas flee out of theentails. The United Arab Emirate (UAE) and its
country to take up menial jobs abroad. Everyeconomic heart Dubai was planned and modeled in
responsible Government strives to provide heranticipation. Under ten (15) Dubai became the
people with the basics of life such as food andpresent fast growing economy of the 21st
shelter. While we suffer under man madecentury, because the Dubai governance was
poverty, our political leaders go on jamboreestransparent irrespective of the leadership
abroad with public funds and even flaunt theirstructure in place. The Shirk who's the paramount
opulence before our very faces.Ruler along with his team of reformers need
It is imperative to note that, with the way thingsDubai to growth faster, which in 1989, a team of
are going, politically, socially and economically, wegeologist predicted the dry-up of the crude oil
have come naturally to the elastic limit of ourreserve. The leadership structure had to spice up
national endurance. Most Nigerians during electiontheir leads on the economic sustainability of the
and on the ballot consciously elected their HancockIsland rounded by salty ocean.
leaders for a turn around in their fate to restoreA round table conference of entrepreneurs,
DIGNITY to their fellow countrymen as embodiedeconomist, and both foreign and domestic
in our National Anthem and in their oath of office.investors amongst others was called. They
YOUTH DISEMPOWERMENTdeliberated, and agreed on several issues. This can
In every country or even community youths arealso be called a sovereign national conference,
the engines of socio-economic development. Agewhich was aborted and sabotage by the
gives the youth the advantage of strength,Obasanjo's administration. One of the brilliant
motivation, innovation and adventure. An ageingissues was for proper, planned and dynamically
population is a spent force. It has mainlyfeasible investment plans; and tourism was keyed
experience to give to the society, and is obviouslyin as the locus standi of the economic revolution
less productive than the youths. Economicallyof Dubai. A new boom of investment
youths are 70% of the work force and anycommenced, with the Shirk taking the lead, and
country that neglects this fact and depends oninitiating the building of the first seven (7) Star
the ageing population through the recyclingHotel in the world; a project that caused the
process is destined for doom.investors almost Ten Billion Dollars (USD$10B). The
Through employment embargoes in the Publicprocess for the Dubai economic revolution was a
Service spanning over 25years now and theswift one, yet it declared by World Bank 2000
failure of the private sector to actively engage inJournal on 20 economies of the world, as the Jet
reasonable production millions of Niger Deltaage economy; because of its fast growing nature.
youths are rendered idle and unproductive,In all aspect, the entire economic had a definite
thereby resorting to militancy, kidnapping andrevolution. In Aviation, Agriculture, Tourism,
other social vices too many to be mentionedHousing, International/Bilateral relations and trade
here. There are cases of Nigerian graduates whoetc, the economy savage its difficult times, and
have remained unemployed for over ten years. Inutilized proficiently its limited resources. In
most cases they went through FederalImportation, tariffs were reduced at no cost, and
Educational institutions with public funds by way ofthe Dubai Port was entirely duty-free. Because
Government subsidies and capital investments inDubai has no freshwater zone, there was a
these institutions. The result is a colossal waste ofproposal for Salination was initiated, and today
valuable public funds and productive labourDubai has the biggest Salination plant in the world.
necessary for the socio-economic advancementIn housing the revolution was carried out through
of the nation.the sand-filling process of its Island and to a great
The neglect of the youths in the economicextent the land mass has increased
process of this country has so manyspontaneously; the 'Palm Island' of more than a
socio-economic consequences, economic revivalthousand (1000) housing units is an example of
and growth despite several government visionarythis Economic development and revolutionary
programmes will continue to remain a mirage. Thescore-card in their housing scheme.
Nation's youths are impoverished and their remixThe economy of Dubai was transformed
for survival have become ready agents ofovernight with all the necessary sacrifices made
destruction, anarchy and confusion in the serviceby its leaders, and they were willing to sacrifice
of the privileged few who are mostly politicians.anything, even their lives to preserve the life of
Many of our youths are now experts inthe unborn. The Economy itself has trained
international scam called '419' and theprofessionals over the 10years development
'Yahoo-Yahoo' panorama in Nigeria. This activity oftarget, and today, Etisalat Network in Nigeria,
Nigerian youths which was born out of aamongst other Companies are example of Dubai's
degenerated national economy has become aneconomic expansion. Yet the Niger Delta which
anathema to our country; created internationalcreates more than 58% of the nation's wealth,
loss of confidence in Nigeria and its people and hasand doubles the Oil and Gas exploration of Dubai is
scared away much needed foreign capital andin economic quagmire. An Ariel Photography
enterprise.reveals the sour propaganda of the government
In our present day nascent democratically coinedover time, and its attempt to resolve conflict in
due process/rule of law mechanism, the principlethe region.
of succession and continuity is ignored in thisWith the right principles of due process and the
country with fatal consequences. As the Youthsrule of law, Niger Delta is too meager to develop,
are denied administrative, political and economicthat is, if the Federal government is ready to
training and involvement in our nation, we aremake the appropriate sacrifices. The revenue
steadily heading towards anarchy because natureallocation principles and its agitation for a fair share
abhors vacuum and the aged will inevitably quitof the resources by the Niger Delta people may
the stage someday for their inexperiencednot be the immediate solution to the restive
successors to run a jungle government. Is this notproblems in the area, the government and
an Irony of a Nation?stakeholders should initiate a development plans
The youths of America fights American battles,solely for the region and not a framework of
and answer patriotic calls to duty for what theirproject in conjunction with other states. The error
country does for them. To have job, or beingof policy formulation is that, the federal
employed in America is not to go hungry orgovernment has likened the Region as parts of a
begging; their country cares for them in times offederal structure that will naturally develop along
distress, while our experience in Nigeria is different.with certain policies that are holistic.
The leadership of our country has been very