DOCSLIB.ORG

Ethnic Minorities and Question of Justice in Nigeria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ethnic Minorities and Question of Justice in Nigeria NIGER DELTA MINORITIES AND THE QUEST FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ZAINAB EMITAREYE ATIRI BA Philosophy/Political Science (Ibadan), MA Philosophy (Ibadan) (Matric. No. 41983) A PhD thesis 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, Ibadan. Nigeria. MAY, 2014. ABSTRACT The perceived inequitable distribution of economic and social resources remains a perennial feature of Nigeria’s political history. The rise of ethnic minority organisations and the concomitant violent struggles for justice has continued to militate against economic growth and political stability of Nigeria. Although, there are several studies on the conflicts and intervention programmes in the Niger Delta, these have not been done from the perspective of a Theory of Justice. This study, examined the agitation in the Niger Delta region as a quest for social justice. Rawls’s theory of ‘justice as fairness’ provided the analytical framework for this study. Four out of the six States of the Niger Delta were purposively selected. Questionnaire was administered to proportionate to size cross-section of youths and community leaders, purposively selected from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in each of the four States: Rivers 250 (190:60), Delta 250 (190:60), Bayelsa 150 (100:50) and Edo 150 (100:50). Data were collected on the socio- demographic characteristics; perceptions of economic marginalisation, social amenities, resource control, unemployment, corruption and government policy on Niger Delta demands. Key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted among three of each political office holders; academics; leaders of ethnic associations and Directors of Minority Rights non-governmental organisations. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA while qualitative data were content analysed. Age of the respondents was 34.2±12.1 years and 67.7% were males. Seventy-one percent were youths, while 44.8% had tertiary education. Perceptions of youths and community leaders on economic marginalisation varied from125:31 (63.4%) in Rivers to 97:37 (91.2%) in Bayelsa State; scarce social amenities varied from 74:21 (69.4%) in Edo to 158:38 (83.7%) in Delta States as major factors for persistent agitations for justice. Factors identified for violent agitation in the Niger Delta included: inability to control resources which varied from 83:22 (76.6%) in Edo to 174:38 (90.6%) in Delta; and a high level of unemployment from 61:23 (61.3%) in Edo to 97:26 (89.8%) in Bayelsa State. Perception of corruption among the elites, which varied from 148:49 (80.1%) in Rivers to 170:32 (86.3%) in Delta State, was identified as a major factor for government’s failure to address Niger Delta demands. There was a significant difference among the States regarding implementation of government policy on economic control of resources. Most respondents (93.6%) agreed to the need to promote a fair socio-economic distribution of resources among ethnic groups. There were significant differences regarding trust in government affirmative programmes and minority quest for justice. Infrastructural development and employment of youths were cited by most respondents (90.7%) as means of reducing the tendency for violent struggles. The KIIs indicated that inadequate premium on derivation principle and oppressive state policies led to socio-economic marginalisation of minority groups. Fair treatment of all groups would facilitate ethno-regional growth, while compensation, environmental and participatory justice would encourage equity and promote justice. Perceived marginalisation is central to the persistent quest and struggles for social justice in the Niger Delta region. Pragmatic approach should be taken to ensure equity in the distribution of resources. Keywords: Ethnic minority, Resource control, Social justice, Niger Delta. Words count: 500 ii ACKOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I express my gratitude and appreciation to the Most High God, the Father of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, who saw me through this study, and the Holy Spirit, my greatest teacher. I thank the department and staff of political science for offering me the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D Programme. I particularly appreciate Prof. Adigun Agbaje who facilitated my admission through the assistance of Prof. E. E. Osaghae who agreed to supervise this work. I will like to use this opportunity to thank Dr (Mrs) Irene Pogoson for her academic advice and spiritual encouragement in making this work a reality. I thank Drs Isumonah, Aiyede, Adesina, Oyekanmi, Arowosegbe and all the other lecturers and students in the department for their contributions to the successful completion of this work. My prayer is for the Lord to bless all of you. Amen. I thank my bosses and colleagues at the National Population Commission for their encouragement and prayers through this Ph.D programme. I thank Mr Oni and Dr Olanipekun who encouraged me to start the programme. I also appreciate the support of the State Director, Mr Fasipe and other staffs of the Commission: Mr Olunlade, Bello, Olawore, Kolapo, Mrs Sodeinde and Aderinto. I thank Mrs Amune and Osuntoye for their prayers. I thank my pastors in the Glory Tabernacle Ministry: Dr and Dr (Mrs) Uzor Adeogo Obed, Pastor (Dr) and Mrs G. Akinbola and Pastor and Mrs Joseph for their prayers, counsel and encouragement. I thank all my Elders Bamgbose, Uponi, Kajogbola, Agbakwuru, Oke, Johnson and Agbokeye for their spiritual advice. I am grateful to my leaders in the Women’s team, for their prayers and encouragement particularly, in the last period of this work. My gratitude goes to Mr Olawale Olayide for helping to analyse the questionnaires and Ife and Romanus Aboh for editing this work. A special appreciation to all my research assistants, particularly, the coordinators, Joy Irabor, Odjogho Helen, Alokpa Chris, Mou and Mene Tesiro for assisting in administering the questionnaire. The following families Prof and Mrs Adeolu Adedapo, Mr and Mrs Dan Oshafi and Mrs Maria Adesanya are appreciated. John Nwokie, Rose Olubiyi and other members of the Ushering team of the Glory Tabernacle Ministry are all appreciated. I thank my husband, Prof. Gabby I. Atiri, for his encouragement and support. I thank my wonderful children, Rokeme, Edori, Regagwa and Ruteh for being such loving and caring iii children. I thank them for giving me an atmosphere of peace to work. May the Lord honour and lift them high and above continually in Jesus Name. Amen. I also give thanks to my late parents, Joseph and Ajarat Omokhabi for insisting we must be educated and for toiling day and night to see us through. How I wish they were alive to see me being awarded a Ph. D degree. For my younger sisters and brothers: Mrs B. Adenubi, B. Ogharaerumi, M. Olowe, J. Omololu, P. Adebimpe, F. Ichanbor, Geminat and brothers, Sulaiman Omokhabi and the wife, Biola and Musa Omokhabi, you are appreciated, and I am blessed to have you as siblings. The Lord bless them all. Amen. My sincere gratitude goes to late Prof. Olu-Owolabi my internal examiner for his assistance, encouragement and academic advice and his beautiful wife, Dr (Mrs) Iromidayo Olu-Owolabi, for her prayers and counsel. The Lord bless you both. Amen. Finally, it is with gratitude from deep places that I appreciate my supervisor, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, whose, despite his busy schedule, immense contributions and constructive criticisms have made this work far better one from what I would have ordinarily produced. His suggestions to be precise and specific have helped to complete this work. For many other contributions and prayers to making the work to be finally complete, I say thank you sir. Finally, I thank Dr (Mrs) Ame Osaghae for her encouragement and for sharing her own experiences; just to encourage me. The Lord bless you in Jesus name. iv CERTIFICATION I certify that this work was carried out by Zainab Emitareye Atiri (Matric No: 41983) under my supervision in the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. --------------------------------------------- Supervisor Professor Eghosa E. Osaghae BSc (Ibadan), MSc (Ibadan), PhD (Ibadan). Department of Political Science University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. v DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the utmost glory of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ; to the memory of my late parents Mr Joseph and Mrs Ajala Omokhabi who did all their best to see us through school, and my children for their patience and encouragement. vi ABBREVIATIONS AG: Action Group AMOS: Association of Minority Oil States ANOVA: Analysis of Variance BDPP: Benin Delta Political Party BOR: Ogoni Bill of Rights CARIA: Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo and Anambra CE: Centre for Environment CEHRD: Centre for Environment, Human Right and Development CDHR: Committee for the Defense of Human Right CM: Chicoco Movement CRP: Constitutional Right Project CWA: Community Wome Association CWOPA: Common Wealth of Oil Producing Areas EBB: Egbesu Boys of Bayelsa EEC: Egi Ethnic Coalition EMIROAF: Ethnic Minority Right Organisation ENU: Edo National Union ERA: Environmental Rights Action FAT: Frustration Aggression Theory FOWA: Federation of Ogoni Women Association GET: Group Entitlement Theory HRWA: Human Rights Watch Action HNT: Human Need Theory INYM: Isoko National Youth Movement IC: Ijaw Communities INC: Ijaw National Congress IHMB: Institute for Home Benin Improvement IRPL: Ijaw Rivers Peoples League IYC: Ijaw Youth Council JIIN: Justice in Nigeria
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Mis-Education of the African Child: the Evolution of British Colonial Education Policy in Southern Nigeria, 1900–1925
    Athens Journal of History - Volume 7, Issue 2, April 2021 – Pages 141-162 The Mis-education of the African Child: The Evolution of British Colonial Education Policy in Southern Nigeria, 1900–1925 By Bekeh Utietiang Ukelina Education did not occupy a primal place in the European colonial project in Africa. The ideology of "civilizing mission", which provided the moral and legal basis for colonial expansion, did little to provide African children with the kind of education that their counterparts in Europe received. Throughout Africa, south of the Sahara, colonial governments made little or no investments in the education of African children. In an attempt to run empire on a shoestring budget, the colonial state in Nigeria provided paltry sums of grants to the missionary groups that operated in the colony and protectorate. This paper explores the evolution of the colonial education system in the Southern provinces of Nigeria, beginning from the year of Britain’s official colonization of Nigeria to 1925 when Britain released an official policy on education in tropical Africa. This paper argues that the colonial state used the school system as a means to exert power over the people. Power was exercised through an education system that limited the political, technological, and economic advancement of the colonial people. The state adopted a curricular that emphasized character formation and vocational training and neglected teaching the students, critical thinking and advanced sciences. The purpose of education was to make loyal and submissive subjects of the state who would serve as a cog in the wheels of the exploitative colonial machine.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 23. Intergenerational Aspects of Ethnic Conflict in Africa The
    23 Intergenerational Aspects of Ethnic Conflict in Africa The Nigerian Experience ADEBAYO OLABISI ODEJIDE,AKINADE OLUMUYIWA SANDA, and ABIOLA I. ODEJIDE INTRODUCTION This chapter examines ethnic conflicts and their long-term consequences in Africa in general and in Nigeria in particular. At the outset, we need to outline our understanding of ethnic conflict. In some cases, ethnic conflicts may be reflected in hostile interethnic stereotypes and prejudices that may derive from sociocultural contact or economic competition (Post & Vick­ ers, 1973). In other cases, ethnic conflicts may be transformed into fierce political contests be­ tween ethnic groups over vital issues, interests, or objectives (e.g., census counts, rotational presidency) or violent interethnic internal wars. Theories and research in the field of ethnic relations suggest that ethnic conflict may result from emergent forms of social stratification and collisions over power, especially when power, or what Post and Vickers (1973) termed "control capacity," becomes valued above anything else. Ethnic conflict may also result in threats of secession, secession, or wars against or in fa­ vor of secession, as has been the case in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zaire. In all these cases, con­ siderable violence and loss of life occurred and, as in all wars, there was also significant destruction of property in ethnic communities. In essence, therefore, ethnic conflict, as conceived in this chapter, occurs to different de­ grees and in different forms, and can therefore be perceived within the context of a continuum: Ethnopolitical contests Secession Debates, controversies Attempted secession Interethnic warfare ADEBAYO OLABISI ODEJIDE • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, lbadan Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxes, Institutions, and Governance: Evidence from Colonial Nigeria
    Taxes, Institutions and Local Governance: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Colonial Nigeria Daniel Berger September 7, 2009 Abstract Can local colonial institutions continue to affect people's lives nearly 50 years after decolo- nization? Can meaningful differences in local institutions persist within a single set of national incentives? The literature on colonial legacies has largely focused on cross country comparisons between former French and British colonies, large-n cross sectional analysis using instrumental variables, or on case studies. I focus on the within-country governance effects of local insti- tutions to avoid the problems of endogeneity, missing variables, and unobserved heterogeneity common in the institutions literature. I show that different colonial tax institutions within Nigeria implemented by the British for reasons exogenous to local conditions led to different present day quality of governance. People living in areas where the colonial tax system required more bureaucratic capacity are much happier with their government, and receive more compe- tent government services, than people living in nearby areas where colonialism did not build bureaucratic capacity. Author's Note: I would like to thank David Laitin, Adam Przeworski, Shanker Satyanath and David Stasavage for their invaluable advice, as well as all the participants in the NYU predissertation seminar. All errors, of course, remain my own. Do local institutions matter? Can diverse local institutions persist within a single country or will they be driven to convergence? Do decisions about local government structure made by colonial governments a century ago matter today? This paper addresses these issues by looking at local institutions and local public goods provision in Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting the Budgetary Deficit Factor in the 1914 Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates: a Case Study of Zaria Province, 1903-1914
    International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science Vol. 5 No. 9 December 2017 Revisiting the Budgetary Deficit Factor in the 1914 Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates: A Case Study of Zaria Province, 1903-1914 Dr Attahiru Ahmad SIFAWA Department of History, Faculty of Arts and social sciences, Sokoto State University Sokoto, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Dr SIRAJO Muhammad Sokoto Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria Murtala MARAFA Department of History Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Corresponding Author: Dr Attahiru Ahmad SIFAWA Sponsored by: Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Nigeria 1 International Journal of Liberal Arts and Social Science ISSN: 2307-924X www.ijlass.org Abstract One of the widely propagated notion on the British Administration of Northern Nigeria, and in particular, the 1914 Amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates was that the absence of seaboard and custom duties therefrom, and other sources of revenue, made the protectorate of Northern Nigeria depended mostly on direct taxation as its sources of revenue. The result was the inadequacy of the locally generated revenue to meet even the half of the region’s financial expenditure for over 10 years. Consequently, the huge budgetary deficit from the North had to be met with grant – in-aid which averaged about a quarter of a million sterling pounds from the British tax payers’ money annually. Northern Nigeria was thus amalgamated with Southern Nigeria in order to benefit from the latter’s huge budgetary surpluses and do away with imperial grant –in- aid from Britain.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Journal of Management and Business Research: G Interdisciplinary
    OnlineISSN:2249-4588 PrintISSN:0975-5853 DOI:10.17406/GJMBR ACaseStudyonArcadiaGroup ModelforStrategicManagement EffectiveTeachingInnovationModel DiffusionofDigitalPaymentSystem VOLUME18ISSUE4VERSION1.0 Global Journal of Management and Business Research: G Interdisciplinary Global Journal of Management and Business Research: G Interdisciplinary Volume 18 Issue 4 (Ver. 1.0) OpOpenen AAssociationssociation of Research Society © Global Journal of Global Journals Inc. Management and Business (A Delaware USA Incorporation with “Good Standing”; Reg. Number: 0423089) Sponsors:Open Association of Research Society Research. 2018. Open Scientific Standards All rights reserved. This is a special issue published in version 1.0 Publisher’s Headquarters office of “Global Journal of Science Frontier Research.” By Global Journals Inc. Global Journals ® Headquarters All articles are open access articles distributed 945th Concord Streets, under “Global Journal of Science Frontier Research” Framingham Massachusetts Pin: 01701, Reading License, which permits restricted use. United States of America Entire contents are copyright by of “Global USA Toll Free: +001-888-839-7392 Journal of Science Frontier Research” unless USA Toll Free Fax: +001-888-839-7392 otherwise noted on specific articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced Offset Typesetting or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including Glo bal Journals Incorporated photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written 2nd, Lansdowne, Lansdowne Rd., Croydon-Surrey, permission. Pin: CR9 2ER, United Kingdom The opinions and statements made in this book are those of the authors concerned. Packaging & Continental Dispatching Ultraculture has not verified and neither confirms nor denies any of the foregoing and no warranty or fitness is implied. Global Journals Pvt Ltd E- 3130 Sudama Nagar, Near Gopur Square, Engage with the contents herein at your own risk.
    [Show full text]
  • Pol 214 Course Title: Introduction to Political
    NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES COURSE CODE: POL 214 COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ANALYSIS POL 214 COURSE GUIDE COURSE GUIDE POL 214 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ANALYSIS Course Team Eyene Okpanachi (Developer/Writer) – UI Abdulrahoof Bello(Coordinator) – NOUN NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA iii POL 214 COURSE GUIDE National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island, Lagos Abuja Office No. 5 Dar es Salaam Street Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse II, Abuja e-mail: [email protected] URL: www.nou.edu.ng Published by National Open University of Nigeria Printed 2013 Reprinted 2014 ISBN: 978-058-227-4 All Rights Reserved iv POL 214 COURSE GUIDE CONTENTS PAGE Introduction…………………………………………… iv Course Aim…………………………………………… iv Course Objectives…………………………………….. iv Working through this Course………………………… v Course Materials……………………………………… v Study Units…………………………………………… v Textbooks and References……………………………. vii Assesment……………………………………………... viii Tutor-MarkedAssignment…………………………….. viii Final Examination and Grading ……………………… ix Course Marking Scheme……………………………… ix Course Overview/Presentation……………………….. ix What you will Learn in this Course…………………… x Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials……………………… xi Conclusion……………………………………………. xi Summary………………………………………………. xi v POL 214 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION POL 214: Introduction to Political Analysis which is a three- credit unit course offered for students of the undergraduate degree programme in Political Science. There are 21 Study Units in this course. The prerequisite for studying this course is POL 111: Introduction to Political Science. It has been developed with appropriate local and international examples suitable for a student of politics. This course guide is for distance learners enrolled in the B.Sc Political Science programme of the National Open University of Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • A Historical Survey of Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Police Departments of Nigeria in 1930
    European Scientific Journal August edition vol. 8, No.18 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 A HISTORICAL SURVEY OF AMALGAMATION OF THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF NIGERIA IN 1930 Famoye Abiodun Daniels Department of History and International Studies, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria Abstract This paper examines the historical dynamics that metamorphosed into the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Police Departments of Nigeria by the British colonial government in 1930. The paper posits that the reform was largely part of the British extant colonial policy directed at the exploitation of Nigeria. The paper argues further that the amalgamation was desired more as a means of alleviating British economic difficulties of the 1920s and the 1930s. The paper therefore concludes that, contrary to the colonial government’s claim that the amalgamation was strictly designed for the development of Nigeria; the amalgamation was actually projected towards the maximisation of British colonial interest at the expense of Nigeria. Keywords: Police, Amalgamation, Native, Ordinance, Protectorate Introduction The formation of what is today known as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) started in the late 19th century, when the colonial government began to establish paramilitary organisations, primarily for the protection of British merchants and colonial officials, who felt unsecured among the natives, who wanted to defend themselves against colonial oppression (Alemika 2010). In line with this motive, the colonial government also encouraged the traditional chiefs to operate their own police forces, the Native Authority Police (NAP), provided they were used to accelerate the attainment of colonial intentions 205 European Scientific Journal August edition vol.
    [Show full text]
  • An Assessment of the Economic Development Existence in Nigeria by Benedict N
    Global Journal of Management and Business Research: B Economics and Commerce Volume 13 Issue 5 Version 1.0 Year 2014 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-4588 & Print ISSN: 0975-5853 An Assessment of the Economic Development Existence in Nigeria By Benedict N. Akanegbu & Matthew Oladapo Gidigbi Nasarawa State University, Nigeria Abstract - Poverty incidence and unemployment rate of the developing countries have been increasing as they claimed development in their economies, the situation in which Nigeria is not an exception. Thereby, this study set to investigate whether economic development existed in the country in the past 27 years, covering the periods of 1986 – 2012. Likewise, to inform the decision makers and policy implementers about the appropriate usage of the words ‘economic development’, and as well portends its redefining and differentiation between ‘GDP growth and GDP widening’. The study stipulated ideal methods of assessing the existence of economic development based on the extant definitions from the most relevant authors in the field of Development Economics. Keywords: economic development, gross domestic products, poverty, and unemployment . GJMBR-B Classification: JEL CODE: C13, O47, O10 Abstract - Poverty incidence and unemployment rate of the developing countries have been increasing as they claimed development in their economies, the situation in which Nigeria is not an exception. Thereby, this study set to investigate whether economic development existed in the AnAssessmentoftheEconomicDevelopmentExistenceinNigeria country in the past 27 years, covering the periods of 1986 – 2012. Likewise, to inform the decision makers and policy implementers about the appropriate usage of the words ‘economic development’, and as well portends its redefining and differentiation between ‘GDP growth and GDP widening’.
    [Show full text]
  • The Nigeria Win the War Fund: an Unsung Episode in Government-Press Collaboration in Nigeria During the Second World War
    © Kamla-Raj 2010 J Soc Sci, 24(2): 87-100 (2010) The Nigeria Win the War Fund: An Unsung Episode in Government-Press Collaboration in Nigeria during the Second World War E.N. Mordi Department of History/International Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria GSM: 08036761418; E-mail: [email protected] KEYWORDS Colonialism .Communication. Community. Cooperation .Self-help. ABSTRACT Contrary to prevailing notions, Nigerians, inspite of their distance from the theater of war, felt the great impact of World War II and made substantial sacrifices which contributed to Allied victory over Nazism. Using Archival sources and national dailies ignored by previous scholars, the paper concludes that there was positive collaboration between the colonial government and Nigerian press in Britain’s Win the War efforts in Nigeria as illustrated by the Nigeria Win the War Fund. INTRODUCTION since Nigerians were so far removed from the theater of war and from the great issues at stake The impact of the Second World War in (Coleman 1958). awakening African political consciousness Such negative views of the role of the Nigerian (Crowder 1974) and in heightening the tempo of press, and of Nigerian contributions to World War political activities (Olusanya 1980a) against the II efforts neither present the whole picture nor background of the pre-war political docility of reflect the evidence (Mordi 1994). Rather, they the elite ( Hodgkin 1951; Crowder 1984) and the relegate and indeed obscure the positive concomitant hope of the colonial overlords to collaboration, at least from the British perspective, exercise unchallenged authority for generations between the colonial government and the press (Ajayi and Crowder 1974) has been studied.
    [Show full text]
  • Interrogating British Residential Segregation in Nigeria, 1899-1919
    UCLA Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies Title Space and Colonial Alterity: Interrogating British Residential Segregation in Nigeria, 1899-1919 Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/98q1c1d1 Journal Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 41(2) ISSN 0041-5715 Author Alozie, Bright Publication Date 2020 DOI 10.5070/F7412046832 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California PART I Essays Space and Colonial Alterity: Interrogating British Residential Segregation in Nigeria, 1899-1919 Bright Alozie Abstract The policy of segregation is undoubtedly a resented feature of colo- nial rule in Africa. However, discussions of the residential racial segregation policy of the British colonial administration in Africa invariably focus on “settler colonies” of South, Central, and East Africa. British colonial West Africa hardly features in such dis- cussions since it is widely believed that these areas, which had no large-scale European settler populations, had no experience relevant to any meaningful discussion of multi-racial colonial relationships. Some studies even deny the existence of racially segregated areas in places other than the settler colonies. Despite evidence that residen- tial racial segregation formed one of the principles that facilitated the implementation of British colonial policy in Nigeria, the Nige- rian experience has not been given a fully coherent treatment. This paper examines Nigeria’s experience of officially directed residen- tial segregation. It argues that while residential segregation policies were justified along policies related to health, sanitation, and dis- ease prevention, the motive also derived from the demonstration of racial supremacy and civilization, which was the ideological justi- fication for empires in Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Imperial Travelers: the Formation of West African Urban Culture, Identity, and Citizenship in London and Accra, 1925-1935
    Imperial Travelers: The Formation of West African Urban Culture, Identity, and Citizenship in London and Accra, 1925-1935 by Jinny Kathleen Prais A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (History and Women‘s Studies) in the University of Michigan 2008 Doctoral Committee: Professor Mamadou Diouf, Co-Chair Professor Carroll Smith-Rosenberg, Co-Chair Associate Professor Michele Mitchell Reader in English, Stephanie M. Newell, University of Sussex © Jinny Kathleen Prais 2008 Dedication For Carroll Smith-Rosenberg Whose example it is my greatest ambition to emulate ii Acknowledgements This dissertation is the product of many institutions and people. First, I would like to acknowledge the West African students who set up clubs and newspapers in London and Accra, sent copies of their journals to the British Museum, and made their way into public archives and records. They have left behind a rich and endlessly stimulating set of documents. I am grateful to a number of schools, programs and departments at the University of Michigan for providing funding for this project: the Rackham Graduate School, the Program in Women‘s Studies, the Department of History, the Center for African and AfroAmerican Studies, the Gayle Morris Sweetland Writing Center, the Seminar on Global and Ethnic Literatures, and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender. I especially acknowledge the generous support of the Center for the Education of Women. The staff and faculty of the Sweetland Writing Center have provided invaluable feedback on this project. I am particularly grateful to Charlotte Boulay for guiding me as I worked through each chapter, and for her editorial assistance.
    [Show full text]
  • The Press in Nigeria
    Kunapipi Volume 1 Issue 2 Article 12 1979 The Press in Nigeria Sven Poulsen Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Recommended Citation Poulsen, Sven, The Press in Nigeria, Kunapipi, 1(2), 1979. Available at:https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi/vol1/iss2/12 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] The Press in Nigeria Abstract In most books and surveys on Africa and African affairs the press is seldom mentioned. Now and then the Nigerian or the South African press is briefly ouchedt upon as possible exceptions from the general rule that the African press is unimportant quantitatively and qualitatively. This journal article is available in Kunapipi: https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi/vol1/iss2/12 SVEN POULSEN The Press in Nigeria In most books and surveys on Africa and African affairs the press is seldom mentioned. Now and then the Nigerian or the South African press is briefly touched upon as possible exceptions from the general rule that the African press is unimportant quantitat­ ively and qualitatively. In the whole of Africa there were in 1976 only 190 daily news­ papers having a total circulation of six million copies. This gives Africa an average of 14 copies per 1,000 inhabitants against a World average of 130 per I ,000 (Western Europe 243 per 1.000). 1 From a Western point of view the quality of the press is deter­ mined by its independence, objectivity and its right to criticise authority.
    [Show full text]