The Ombatse Crisis in Nigeria: Background, Recent Developments and Possible Solutions
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Journal of Interdisciplinary Conflict Science Volume 2 Issue 2 Article 1 2-2016 The Ombatse Crisis in Nigeria: Background, Recent Developments and Possible Solutions Simeon Onyemachi Hilary Alozieuwa Ph.D. Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/jics Part of the American Politics Commons, Comparative Politics Commons, International and Area Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Models and Methods Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, and the Political Theory Commons Recommended Citation Alozieuwa, S. O. (2016). The Ombatse Crisis in Nigeria: Background, Recent Developments and Possible Solutions. Journal of Interdisciplinary Conflict Science, 2(2), -. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ jics/vol2/iss2/1 This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by the CAHSS Journals at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Interdisciplinary Conflict Science by an authorized editor of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Ombatse Crisis in Nigeria: Background, Recent Developments and Possible Solutions Cover Page Footnote References Anton du Plessis. 2011. “Exploring the Concept of Identity in World Politics.” Politics of Identity and Exclusion in Africa: From Violent Confrontation to Peaceful Cooperation, No. 11 (Seminar Report) Johannesburg, RSA Ankie Hoogvelt. 2001 (second edition). Globalization and Post -Colonial World: the New Political Economy of Development. Hampshire, Palgrave. Bolaji Akinyemi. 2003. “Ethnic militias and the national question in Nigeria” in Tunde Babawale, (ed) Urban violence, ethnic militias and the challenge of democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Lagos, Malthouse Press Limited. 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Tesemchi Makar. 1979. “The Relationship between the Sokoto Caliphate and Non-Muslim People of the Middle Benue Region,” in Bala Usman: Studies in the History of Sokoto. New York, Third Press. Internet Sources Abel Daniel “We are not militias, we are a prayer group”- Ombatse Cult’ Vanguard, December 22, 2012. Available at http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/12/we-are-not-militias-we-are-a-prayer-group- ombatse-cult/ (retrieved 12 November, 2015). BBC News, “Nigeria attack: Nasarawa cult ambush 'kills 30 police'”, 9 May, 2015. Available @ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22462225 (retrieved 10 November, 2015) Dele Agakemeh, “Nasarawa Massacre: ‘Barbarians’ on rampage” Premium Times online Newspaper, May 22, 2013. 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The Will (editorial) “Presidential Softness on Boko Haram.” Available at http://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/103766/1/ thewill-editorial-presidential-softness-on-boko-ha.html (retrieved 12 November, 2015). “We Were Behind Al- Makura’s Victory in 2011- Spiritual Group.” Available at http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/ index.php?topic=193323.0 (retrieved November, 12, 2015). This research article is available in Journal of Interdisciplinary Conflict Science: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/jics/vol2/ iss2/1 The Ombatse Crisis in Nigeria: Background, Recent Developments and Possible Solutions Abstract: This paper focuses on the hegemonic politics between the Eggon and Hausa/Fulani ethnic groups in Nasarawa, North-Central Nigeria, which eventually erupted into the Ombatse crisis of May 2013- a precursor to the 2015 general elections. It addresses four research questions seeking to unravel whether or not: (1a) the crisis truly reflects a spiritual revivalist agenda as projected by the Ombatse promoters or merely espouses Eggon rejection of Muslim- Hausa/Fulani ethnic hegemony- mirroring broadly the identity, hegemonic and exclusionary politics in the area cum the larger Nigerian society;(b) the Eggon-Hausa-Fulani feud has the potential to exacerbate the sectarian strife in Nigeria’s northern region and therefore deepen the polarization among Nigeria’s disparate social groups-thereby threaten the consolidation of Nigeria’s young democracy; (2) there are any institutional safeguards in place to forestall the promotion of discriminatory tendencies in the politics of the state;(3) there is the likelihood of the tendencies in the Nasarawa politics nudging the state into violence after the 2015 elections; and (4) there are viable solutions available to address the potentially violate situation. Methodologically, using both primary and secondary sources- interviews and works of scholars, and media reports on the crisis, the study came up with the following findings: (1) the Ombatse crisis is not a religious-puritanical cause, but fits into the themes of identity conflict, hegemonic and exclusionary politics; (2)the election outcome still reflected the deep divisions and polarization among Nigeria’s disparate social groups- projecting Nigeria yet as a deeply-divided society; (3) contrary to the pre-election anxiety, there were no violence during and after the elections-owing essentially to the moderating presence in Nigeria during the 2015 election of the International Criminal Court (ICC), who threatened to prosecute person(s) or group(s) that perpetrate violence in the course of the election; (4)Nasarawa politics lacks any ‘institutional safeguards to prevent the emergence of conditions in which divisions within the society gain a salient discriminatory dimension and eventually facilitate the rise of violence as a means to realize group interest’. The study suggests six recommendations that can promote the solution of the potentially violate situation; importantly, evolving a well-defined power-sharing framework, which aims at rotating such political offices among the ethnic groups for a better inter-group relations, implementing past recommendations of commission of inquiries and having the presence of the ICC during elections. Key words: Ombatse, Nasarawa-Eggon, Hausa-Fulani, identity, exclusionary and hegemonic politics, sectarian violence Introduction In the last two decades, following the end of 1967-1970 civil war, Nigeria has had