Andrew Okolo OBIAJULU
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PERCEPTION OF SOURCES, EFFECTS AND RESOLUTION METHODS OF CONFLICTS IN TOWN UNIONS OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. BY Andrew Okolo OBIAJULU AUGUST 2014 i PERCEPTION OF SOURCES, EFFECTS AND RESOLUTION METHODS OF CONFLICTS IN TOWN UNIONS OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. BY Andrew Okolo OBIAJULU B.Sc. (UNN); M. Sc (JOS) Matric. No: 87117 A Thesis in the Department of Sociology [Conflict Studies] Submitted to the Faculty of the Social Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN AUGUST 2014 ii ABSTRACT Town Unions (TUs) exist for identifying and resolving communal problems among others in Anambra State. Ironically, many of them are conflict infested. Although many studies have been conducted on conflict, none specifically focused on the nature of social conflict facing TUs in Anambra State. This study therefore investigated the sources, effects and resolution methods of TU conflicts in Anambra State. Marxian theory of social conflict and Ted Gurr‟s theory of Relative Deprivation were used as theoretical framework. The study adopted a cross- sectional survey design. Nri was selected through simple random sampling method from a list of 5 communities with two TUs in the state where one should exist. Likewise, Isiagu was selected from a list of 12 communities with care-taker committees. Amansea was selected purposively from list of 160 communities with functional TUs as the study locations. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from 516 respondents. The sample frame was the list of TU members as held by ward leaders in the towns. Participants were selected as follows (Nri-128; Isiagu-204 and Amansea-184) using simple random sampling method. Whereas 12 in-depth interviews were conducted on members of vigilante (6), victims of TU conflicts (6), 23 key informants interview were conducted on traditional ruler`s representatives (6), ward leaders (15) and government officials (2) to obtain qualitative data for the study. The quantitative data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data were content analysed. Respondent`s age was 45.3±12.8 years and 65.7% of them were males. Leadership struggle was found to be a significant source of TU conflict in Isiagu (85.1%) but was not in Nri (55.4%) and Amansea (73.2%). Qualitative data attributed the struggle to the absence of a serving monarch in the town. This was not a significant source of TU conflict in Nri and Amansea where serving monarchs existed. Again conflict in Isiagu and Nri arose because identity of some indigenes were politicised. Also, in Isiagu (75.6%), Nri (53.3%) and Amansea (35.9%) of respondents saw State Governments` financial assistance as a source of TU conflict. Qualitative data showed most of the money could be misappropriated by community leaders. In Isiagu (81.0%), Nri (39.0%) and Amansea (35.5%) of respondents saw lack of accountability of TU monies as an internal source of TU conflict. The use of mediators (r = 0.3), elders and traditional rulers (r=0.3), were mostly preferred methods of conflict resolution in the three communities. Conversely, the use of TU constitution (r =0.2), invitation of the police (r =0.2) were not preferred. Leadership struggles and financial assistance foster Town Unions conflict more in towns with caretaker committees in Anambra State. Communities without a serving monarch should be encouraged to have one; since the institution enhances Town Union`s peace. Moreover, culturally approved penal sanctions should be used in the discipline of erring Town Union officials. Keywords: Town unions, Socio-political conflicts, Conflict resolution, Anambra state. Word count: 493 iii DEDICATION To my maker and ultimate provider, Our Lord Jesus Christ, with gratitude unsurpassed. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS You accommodated me, not minding your busy schedules. You calmed my academic nerves and professionally showed me the imperatives of surviving in UI. I thank you for the kind words, the compassion, the sacrifice, the encouragement and, indeed, your being ever ready to assist me improve myself and the quality of this work. It is only God that can reward you adequately, Professor A. A. Aderinto, my erudite supervisor. The pillars of Sociology Department, University of Ibadan remain acknowledged in this work. It is amazing how co-operative your attitude to work has been in a country notorious for many ills. Your publications, international networks, informed seminars, camaraderie remain eloquent testimonies that you are experts of social thoughts and processes. Professors: E. E. Alemika, S. O. Alubo, of University of Jos, Dr. Oluwafemi Adelakun of the same institution, together with late Professor Omafume Onoge, urged me to discover the dialectical approach to life. I am grateful always. I am grateful to Professors Okwubiba Nnoli and Austin Nnonyelu, who kept reminding me to go for this academic journey no matter the odds. I appreciate my special mentors in my secondary school Messrs Bon Chuke and M.C. Chukwukah and Professor O. M. Abone, for urging me on at a time many believed I could not have existed. Late Mr. Paul Nzuko, when I was being taunted in my primary school days, you encouraged me to move up the chalk board to read the letters. I did .You motivated me with your gifts, discovered a virtue in me and urged me on. How I wish you are alive to see the fruit of your labour.Rest In Peace. My family of procreation has been wonderful in this struggle. My wife Azuka is my Amazon and jewel of inestimable value. Thank you for the prayers, and the emotional support. Joseph Andy –Obiajulu, thanks for your uncommon input. Our children are golden to us and I thank God for the bond that holds us together. I thank, in no small way, my God-given, brotherly friend, Dr. C.O. Anazonwu, members of his immediate and extended family for their exceptional mindsets. Your immeasurable assistance to me, especially when all hopes seemed lost deserves a chapter in my autobiography. My history is just incomplete without you. I remain very grateful to my field work assistants: Ejimofor, Nri Agu, Nduka, Obikwelu, Nwakozor, Dubem, Chiedu, Celestina and Mabel. v I also thank Dr. C.C. Ezike, my fatherly friend, for his unquantifiable assistance to me and my family, especially when the demands of this programme compelled me to travel down to Ibadan. Dr. Olajide, formerly of FHI office Awka, thanks for being exceptionally kind to me. People like you move the world. Yaya Bamidele of office of the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan; I thank you in no small way for your inestimable assistance to me. I will always appreciate the risks you took on my behalf. My professional colleagues in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, thank you for covering up my roles anytime it was imperative because of this work. I have indeed benefited from the authors whose works I consulted and I once again acknowledge them, in cold prints of course. Andrew Obiajulu August, 2014 vi CERTIFICATION I certify that this thesis work was carried out by Andrew Okolo OBIAJULU under my supervision. _____________________ __________________ Date Supervisor Prof. A.A.Aderinto Department of Sociology University of Ibadan, Nigeria vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Title Page i Abstract iii Dedication iv Acknowledgements v Certification vii Table of contents viii List of Figure and Tables xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study 1 1.1.2 Origin and structure of town unions as voluntary associations 4 1.1.3 Igbo town unions 5 1.2 Statement of the problem 7 1.3 Research questions 11 1.4 Objectives of the study 11 1.5 Study justification 12 1.6 Definition of terms 13 1.6.1 Negative participation in town union affairs 13 1.6.2 Socio-political Conflicts 13 1.6.3 Traditional ruler‟s interference in town union affairs 13 1.6.4 Indigenous methods of conflict resolution 13 1.6.5 Foreign methods of conflict resolution 14 1.6.6 State intervention in town union affairs 14 1.6.7 Ascription in role allocation 14 1.6.8 Conflict town 14 1.6.9 No conflict town 14 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Literature review 15 2.1.1 The Nature of social conflict 15 2.1.2 Parties in conflict 16 viii 2.1.3 Issues in conflict 17 2.1.4 Environment of conflict 17 2.1.5 Attitude in conflict 18 2.2 Models of conflict analysis 19 2.3 Social conflict and infrastructural development 20 2.4 State government and creation of care-taker committee in Anambra state 22 2.5 Traditional rulers‟ involvement in TU affairs 26 2.6 Gender inequity among the Igbo 30 2.7 Strategies of conflict resolution 31 2.7.1 Negotiation 31 2.7.2 Mediation 32 2.7.3 Arbitration 32 2.7.4 Adjudication 33 2.7.5 Conflict management 34 2.7.6 Conflict suppression 34 2.7.7 Realism 35 2.7.8 Traditional method 36 2.8 Etiology of social conflict 38 2.8.1 Social psychological theories 38 2.8.2 Social-structural theories 40 2.8.3 Structural functionalist theory 41 2.8.4 Modernization theory 46 2.8.5 Structural conflict theory 48 2.8.6 Dependency theory 54 2.8.7 Social definitionists approach 58 2.9 Empirical review 59 2.9.1 Leadership issues in TU administration 64 2.9.2 Determinants of peoples‟ participation in TU affairs 69 2.10 Theoretical framework 71 2.11 Conceptual framework 73 2.12.