Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: an Ethnographic Case Study John Oghenero Tobor Walden University

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: an Ethnographic Case Study John Oghenero Tobor Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2014 Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study John Oghenero Tobor Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the African Languages and Societies Commons, and the African Studies Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by John Tobor has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. William Benet, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Morris Bidjerano, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Mai Moua, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2014 Abstract Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study by John O. Tobor Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University September 2014 Abstract Despite abundant oil resources, the residents of the Niger Delta endure extreme poverty, polluted environments, poor infrastructure, and high unemployment. In the early 1990s, these problems led to a violent uprising against oil exploration. In 2009 the government of Nigeria attempted to end the uprising by implementing an amnesty program for the militants that was designed to address the region’s problems. The amnesty program resulted in suspending the violence but so far has not resolved the region’s problems. If these problems are not addressed, the uprising may resume. Although the Urhobo people comprised the largest number of militants from the Western Niger Delta, there has been no research on whether there are aspects of the Urhobo culture that may be helpful for strengthening the amnesty program and preventing a return to violence by Urhobo ex- militants. Benet’s polarities of democracy model served as the theoretical framework for this ethnographic study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observations of 20 Urhobo ex-militants to learn what might prevent their return to violence. Content analysis was used to identify significant themes. Findings indicated that aspects of the Urhobo culture, such as communal obligations, respect for elders, and commitment to social justice and equality, may contribute to strengthening the amnesty program and preventing a return to violence. Recommendations include incorporating meaningful participation of Urhobo elders in the further development and implementation of the amnesty program. Implications for social change include informing policy makers of the importance the Urhobo culture may play in strengthening the amnesty program. Urhobo Culture and the Amnesty Program in Niger Delta, Nigeria: An Ethnographic Case Study By John O. Tobor Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University September 2014 Dedication This work is dedicated to the Almighty God for his grace in making my dream a reality. I would also like to dedicate this research work to the memory of my late parents Mr. John G. Tobor and Patience Gbenedio. They did everything they could to make sure that I get to this point in my life but could not be alive to share in this wonderful achievement. They instilled in me a love for education and learning. Their life lessons are a treasure and a source of inspiration. Acknowledgments I wish to acknowledge the Almighty God who made this possible. I sincerely thank my committee chair Dr. William Benet for all the help and guidance provided throughout the entire process of this journey. Special thanks to Dr. Morris Bidjerano my committee member and Dr. Mai Moua the university research reviewer for their contributions in making this work a quality product. Along this journey, there are those whose support and encouragement must be acknowledged. I wish to extend my gratitude to my wife Ikpenwosa Tobor and son Anthony Akpewheoghene Tobor. They both deserve a special recognition for putting up with me throughout the period of my study. Thank you for your understanding, patience, prayers and for accommodating all my shortcomings as a result of this work. Special thanks to my friends and colleagues Festus Odubo, Obatusin Oluwasegun, Peter Opone, and Eisa Shaheen Without their support, idea and information sharing, the road would have indeed been a more difficult one. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... vi List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................7 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................10 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................10 Research Questions ......................................................................................................11 Central Research Question .................................................................................... 11 Sub Questions ....................................................................................................... 12 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework .............................................................................12 Research Design ...........................................................................................................16 Definitions of Key Terms ............................................................................................18 Assumptions .................................................................................................................21 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................21 Limitations ...................................................................................................................22 Significance..................................................................................................................23 Implications for Social Change ....................................................................................24 Summary ......................................................................................................................26 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................28 Introduction ..................................................................................................................28 Historical Background of the Niger-Delta Crisis .........................................................32 i Root Causes of the Niger Delta Crises ........................................................................37 Amnesty Initiative: Prospects and Challenges .............................................................42 The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility.........................................................48 Implementation of the Amnesty Initiative from a Cultural Perspective ......................52 Implementation of the Amnesty Initiative with Community Participation Approach ..........................................................................................................54 Polarities of Democracy Model ...................................................................................58 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................................62 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................64 Introduction ..................................................................................................................64 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................65 Research Questions ......................................................................................................67 Central Research Question .................................................................................... 67 Sub Questions ....................................................................................................... 67 Justification of Qualitative Research ...........................................................................68 Justification of Ethnographic Case Study ....................................................................69 Challenges of Ethnographic
Recommended publications
  • Mid-Term Evaluation of the Conflict Abatement Through Local Mitigation (Calm) Project Implemented by Ifesh Under Cooperative Agreement No
    MID-TERM EVALUATION OF THE CONFLICT ABATEMENT THROUGH LOCAL MITIGATION (CALM) PROJECT IMPLEMENTED BY IFESH UNDER COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NO. 620-A-00-05-000099-00 JUNE 2009 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by ARD, Inc. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The CALM Mid-term Evaluation team extends deep thanks to the some 200 project beneficiaries and partners of CALM in Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, and Rivers states who generously shared their time and thoughts during our interviews and discussions. We are also grateful to the IFESH/CALM staff for generously providing detailed information on their field activities and contacts, and for arranging a number of key interviews. IFESH headquarters in Phoenix kindly supplemented our documentation on the history and evolution of the project. We are grateful to a number of senior staff from government and donor organizations who expanded our understanding of present and future conflict mitigation and management initiatives in Nigeria. Special thanks goes to USAID Mission Director Sharon Cromer in Abuja for her warm welcome and interest in the evaluation; to the Peace, Democracy and Governance Team for their hands-on support; to staff and team leaders who shared their insights; and to MEMS for review of the project monitoring and evaluation plan. Finally, we gratefully acknowledge the constant and conscientious support of our field research associates: Ali Garba, Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR), Jos; Rosemary Osikoya, Jos; Dr. Christy George, Kate Bee Foundation, Port Harcourt; and Kingsley Akeni, AFSTRAG Consults Limited, Warri. This report has been prepared for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under Contract No.
    [Show full text]
  • The Reflexive Verb in the Grammar of the Urhobo Language
    International Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics IJLLL Vol. 4(2), pp. 187-194, August, 2018. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 2401-0932 Review Article The Reflexive Verb in the Grammar of the Urhobo Language AKPOFURE-OKENRENTIE, Carole Ejomafuvwe (PhD) Department of Languages and Linguistics, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Tel.: +2348033776358 In the grammar of a language, the reflexive verb is part of the structure of speech which shows the action of the verb being executed on the speaker while the action of other verbs is received by other objects outside the speaker. Amongst a community of persons, there are often situations which provoke reflexive actions and expressions such as “I see myself”/ Mé mre ómà mè “Lift yourself up” / “kpárōmà”. By this I mean that it is expedient that the grammar of a language contains forms of the reflexive verb; not only should it contain it, the reflexive verb should also be easily recognisable. Currently, the language has several Urhobo dictionaries to its credit. Sadly, though, they do not seem to feature the reflexive verb. Why is this so? This is the question which this study has tried to answer while attempting to fill up the existing lacunae. The approach to this study has been eclectic since it involved the application of various methods. In view of the structure of the reflexive verb, this study was based on Noam Chomsky’s Transformational Grammar or Transformational Generative Grammar. Key words: Reflexive, Verb, Grammar, Urhobo, Language. INTRODUCTION This article is sequel to an older article titled “The French French.
    [Show full text]
  • Oil and the Urban Question
    NIGER DELTA ECONOMIES OF VIOLENCE WORKING PAPERS Working Paper No. 8 OIL AND THE URBAN QUESTION Fuelling Violence and Politics in Warri Marcus Leton Program Offi cer Our Niger Delta (OND), Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2006 Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA The United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC, USA Our Niger Delta, Port Harcourt, Nigeria OIL AND THE URBAN QUESTION: FUELLING POLITICS AND VIOLENCE IN WARRI Marcus Leton1 Program Officer Our Niger Delta Port Harcourt, Nigeria Who owns Warri Township? This is a multi-million naira question… Is it the Itsekiri, the Agbassa Urhobo or the Ijaw? J.O.S.Ayomike, A History of Warri, Benin, Ilupeju Press, 1988, p.58. [Warri] is an age-long conflict. Legally, Warri has been judged to be Itsekiri owned….That the legal system has not been able to effect a permanent settlement of conflict claims of ownership is seen from the bloody clashes….in the past few years. The conflict has claimed over 3000 lives, displaced thousands, and destroyed property worth several billions of naira. V. Isumonah and J.Gaskiya, Ethnic Groups and Conflicts in Nigeria: The South-South Zone of Nigeria, University of Ibadan, 2001, pp.63-64. The Warri crisis is in many respects a classic example of a “resource war”. Human Rights Watch. The Warri Crisis: Fuelling the Violence, November 2003, p.26. INTRODUCTION Warri represents one of the most important. and most complex. sites of ‘petro- violence’ in all of Nigeria. The current crisis in the oil-producing Niger Delta that emerged in late 2005 with the appearance of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) and a series of abductions and attacks on oil installations, is merely the most recent expression of a long simmering conflict that has engulfed both Warri city and its surrounding hinterlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria As a Tool for National Unity
    © Kamla-Raj 2011 J Communication, 2(2): 83-91 (2011) Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria as a Tool for National Unity Luke Eyoh Department of English, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria GSM: 08023569440; E-mail: lukeeyoh@ yahoo.com KEYWORDS Insights. Similarities. Ethnic. Frontiers. Development ABSTRACT The paper adopts the stylistic critical approach to the study of selected ethnic oral poetry in Nigeria. Its findings disclose ample insights into copious similarities in interests, thoughts, worldviews and values across the various ethnic groups in Nigeria. These findings constitute an effective tool for national integration, unity and development. The paper recommends the preservation, propagation, teaching and learning of Nigerian oral poetry across ethnic frontiers with emphasis on its unifying properties as a means to achieving national unity and development in the country. INTRODUCTION Indicator of Cultural Unity in Nigeria: Similari- ties in Ibibio and Ijo/Urhobo Animal Symbol- The paper explores and illuminates indi- ism in J. P. Clark-Bekederemo’s Poetry” genous oral poetry in Nigeria as a tool for na- published in Essays in Language and Literature tional unity. It comprises six sections, section one in Honour of Ime Ikiddeh at 60 reveals, through being this introduction. Section two focuses on ample research, copious similarities in animal a review of literature germane to the study, three symbolism in Ibibio, Ijo/Urhobo and other Ni- on the critical approach used for the study and gerian cultures. The work suggests that reading four on ten (10) selected ethnic poetic forms in Nigerian poems “rich in cross-cultural animal Nigeria. The ten (10) items, obtained from symbolism stimulates and sustains national con- resource persons and secondary sources, are sciousness and unity in Nigeria” (61).
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development. ISSN: 2630-7065 (Print) 2630-7073 (E)
    Journal of African Studies and Sustainable Development. ISSN: 2630-7065 (Print) 2630-7073 (e). Vol.2 No. 8, 2019 TRADITIONAL JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN URHOBOLAND Atake, Odjuvwuederie John Department of history and international studies Faculty of arts University of uyo, uyo DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27700.81281 Abstract The aim of this study is to examine the traditional judicial system in Urhoboland. Also, this study highlights the traditional administration in the precolonial and colonial period. The essence of the study study is to mirror the changes and impacts of modernity in the Urhobo society particularly the judicial system with the advent of Colonialism by the British. A descriptive method was used to reflect the detail information about the traditional judicial system in urhobo land. The study is a discourse on the Urhobo social system, role of traditional institutions in Urhobo judicial system, the courts and the applicable laws as well as traditional administration of justice. The judicial system and practices was, and still regulates the behaviour of people to maintain social order. The system requires different types of courts as instruments for the resolution of conflict and administration of justice. These courts are inclusive of the Upper Court (Egware r‟Orho) and Lower Court (Egware r‟Egodo): Court of the Family (Egware r‟Ekru or Orua): Court of the Quarter(Egware r‟Uduvwu): Court of the Village(Egware r‟Oko or Ighwre): Court of the Youths (Egware r‟Ighele): Court of the Women Folk(Egware r‟Eghweya) and Special Court Against Theft(Egware r‟Idigbu. However, the highest body which is called in Ovie-in-Council (Ovie -King, Otota- Spokesman and selected Chiefs) take decision on cruicial and major isssues.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigeria – Researched and Compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 22 October 2010 Information on the Followi
    Nigeria – Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on 22 October 2010 Information on the following: 1. The similarities (if any) between Urhobo (alternatively “Sobo”) and Itsekiri (alt. “Isekiri”; “Ishekiri”; etc.) language; 2. The similarities (if any) between Urhobo and Itsekiri ethnicities/cultures/customs; 3. The distribution of Urhobo and Itsekiri populations; including whether these groups live in the same towns/regions of Nigeria; 4. Whether there is any information on whether Itsekiri speakers can or do speak Urhobo, and vice versa. 5. Whether there is conflict/co-operation between Urhobo and Itsekiri people (groups or individuals), and to what extent. A page on the Delta State Tourism website states: “There are five ethnic groups in Delta State, namely Anioma, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri and Urhobo. Deltans speak a variety of languages and dialects but have nearly identical customs, culture and occupations. These are easily identified in the courts of most traditional rulers across the state.” (Delta State Tourism (undated) Delta State: The Big Heart) An entry on the Urhobo in The Peoples of Africa – An Ethnohistorical Dictionary states: “The Urhobo (Uhrobo, Biotu, and the pejorative Sobo) people live in Bendel State in Nigeria, primarily in the Western and Eastern Urhobo divisions. They are closely related to the neighboring Edo people.” (Olson, James S. (1996) The Peoples of Africa – An Ethnohistorical Dictionary. Westport, Greenwood Press. p.578) A page on the Urhobo Association of New York, New Jersey & Connecticut website, in a paragraph headed “People”, states: “The Urhobo people are located in the present Delta State of Nigeria.
    [Show full text]
  • African Musicology On-Line
    AFRICAN MUSICOLOGY ON-LINE (An international, peer-reviewed, e-journal on African Musicology) (Vol. 2, No. 2) ISSN: 1994-7712 ___________________________________________________________ Bureau for the Development of African Musicology (BDAM) C/o H.O. Odwar, Department of Creative & Performing Arts, Maseno University, Kenya. ‘African Musicology Online’ 2(2), 2008 ii ________________________________________________________________________ 'AFRICAN MUSICOLOGY ON-LINE' Vol.2, No.2 [2008] (An international, peer-reviewed e-journal on African Musicology) is published by: Bureau for the Development of African Musicology (BDAM) C/o H.O. Odwar, Department of Creative & Performing Arts, Maseno University, Kenya. © 2008. All Rights Reserved. BDAM. ISSN: 1994-7712 The aims and objective of 'African Musicology Online' are as follows: - To serve as the voice of Africans at the international level in the study of their own Music; - To publish original research papers and reviews by Africans on their own music (encompassing all categories of African music); - To foster mutual co-operation among African scholars in the field of African Musicology; - To promote and develop the concept and practice of African Musicology, by Africans. All enquiries and correspondences should be directed to: The Editor <[email protected]> ‘African Musicology Online’ 2(2), 2008 iii EDITORIAL Editor in Chief Dr. Hellen Otieno Odwar Editorial Board Prof. Akosua O. Addo (U.S.A) Dr. Hellen O. Odwar (Kenya) Dr. ‘Femi Adedeji (Nigeria) Dr. Richard Amuah (Ghana) Edward L. Morakeng (South-Africa) Dr. John Baboukis (Egypt) Prof. Minette Mans (Namibia) Other Editors (Review) Dr. William O. Anku (Ghana) Dr. Zabana Kongo (Ghana) Prof. C. E. Nbanugo (Nigeria) Dr. A. A. Ogisi (Nigeria) Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Case Study of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria
    Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Public Policy Response to Violence: Case Study of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria Emmanuel Baba Mamman Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Emmanuel Baba Mamman has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Timothy Fadgen, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Victoria Landu-Adams, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Eliesh Lane, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Public Policy Response to Violence: Case Study of Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria by Emmanuel Baba Mamman MPA, University of Ilorin, 1998 BSc (Ed), Delta State University, Abraka, 1992 Final Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University September 2020 Abstract The violence of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria has generated an increased need for public policy responses.
    [Show full text]
  • Oil Governance and Development in Africa's Gulf of Guinea
    Fuelling the World – Failing the Region? Oil Governance and Development in Africa’s Gulf of Guinea Fuelling the World – Failing the Region? TABLE OF CONTENT Preface by Sebastian Sperling & Michael Roll ................................................... 4 Introduction: Resource Governance, Development and Democracy in the Gulf of Guinea by Michael Roll ....................................................................... 8 PART I Analysis of the challenges ............................................................... 33 1. The Natural Resource Curse and State Failure: A Comparative View of Sub-Saharan Africa by Indra de Soysa ...................................................................................... 34 IMPRESSUM 2. Organised Crime and Illicit Bunkering: Only Nigeria’s Problem? by Nnamdi K. Obasi ................................................................................... 55 First Printing: August 2011 3. New Oil Finds in the Region: New Risks for the Region? by Matthias Basedau and Annegret Mähler ............................................... 73 Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung PART 2 Possible Solutions: Making Oil and Gas Work for Development Abuja Regional Office and Democracy ................................................................................ 101 12 Marrakesh Street, Wuse II, Nigeria 4. Democratising the Petro-State in West Africa: Understanding the Phone: +234-(0)9-4137977 Challenges by Cyril Obi ............................................................................ 102 Web: www.fes-westafrica.org
    [Show full text]
  • Exxonmobil News (Edition 1 2017).Cdr
    A publication of ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria ISSN 1597-0442 EDITION 1, 2017 Nolan O’Neal bows out, Paul McGrath steps in ExxonMobil discovers significant MPN bags Diamond oil offshore Nigeria Excellence Award NEWS CONTENTS ExxonMobil News ISSN: 1597-0442 Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc (MON) Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) Edition 1, 2017 Chairman Managing Director, EEPNL & MPN and COMMUNITY RELATIONS Lead Country Manager Paul McGrath COVER Nolan O’Neal bows out, NNPC/MPN JV donates Chairman/Managing Director, MON Paul McGrath steps in 23million and water supply Adetunji A. Oyebanji 17 to communities and AKS 6 Schools Director, Lubricants & Specialties, MON A. J. MacNaughton Power Forward Program General Manager, Public & Government Affairs reaffirms EM commitment Paul C. Arinze 20 to Youth Empowerment Editor Oge Udeagha EM donates Geoscience West Saturn, the rig drilled Owowo textbooks, journals to Editorial Team 22 Varsities Ernest Omo-Ojo; Ozemoya Okordion; Patrick Utomi; Chukwuemeka Okonkwo Cover/Concept/Graphic Design Taiwo Ogunbiyi ExxonMobil discovers Registered Office NEWS EM discovers significant Mobil House, 1, Lekki Expressway, P.M.B 12054, oil offshore Nigeria Victoria Island, Lagos. significant oil offshore Nigeria 3 Published by Public & Government Affairs Department for Employees of ExxonMobil subsidiaries in Nigeria. EM wins West Africa’s Best in Company CSR, All correspondence to 4 The Editor, Public & Government Affairs Department, and the government on future sustainability Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil House, xxonMobil Corporation recently The well was drilled 1, Lekki Expressway, P.M.B. 12054, Victoria Island, Ediscovered significant crude oil development plans." Lagos.
    [Show full text]
  • Negation in Languages: a Urhobo Perspective
    ISSN 1798-4769 Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 437-443, May 2021 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1203.14 Negation in Languages: A Urhobo Perspective Iwuala, Zebulon Chukwudi Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria Imu, Famous Oghoghophia Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria Abstract—This paper examines negation and types of tense negation in Urhobo. It also identifies negation marker(s) and the manner in which these negation marker(s) are used in sentences. Transformational generative grammar theory of analysis was used in the work. The aim of this study is to determine the syntactic characteristics of negation in Urhobo. The study shows that negative construction in the Urhobo language involves the doubling of the last vowel of the last word in sentences; or what may be called the lengthening of the last vowel of the lexical item in the sentence. Also, the low-high tone can do the same function as the lexical or grammatical tone. It was observed that negation is a natural phenomenon that cuts across Urhobo, and that the orthographic representation of the low tone, which is the copying of the final vowel, is written contiguously while other negative markers are written separately. It was also observed that Urhobo operates suffixation. Finally, the study work reveals ejo, je, odie and and oyen as negative markers in Urhobo. Index Terms—Negation, negative marker, syntactic characteristics, tense, Urhobo I. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Negation is language universal and exists in one form or the other in natural languages, because at one point or the other, the need to negate, refute, deny, contradict or lie arises.
    [Show full text]
  • Gst201 Nigerian Peoples and Culture
    COURSE GUIDE GST201 NIGERIAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE Course Team Dr. Cyrille D. Ngamen Kouassi (Developer/ Writer) - IGBINEDION Prof. Bertram A. Okolo (Course Editor) - UNIBEN Prof. A.R. Yesufu (Programme Leader) - NOUN Prof. A.R. Yesufu (Course Coordinator) - NOUN NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA GST201 COURSE GUIDE National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters University Village Plot 91, Cadastral Zone Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway Jabi, Abuja Lagos Office 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island, Lagos e-mail: [email protected] website: www.nouedu.net Printed by: NOUN Press Printed 2017, 2019, 2021 ISBN: 978-058-425-0 All Rights Reserved ii GST201 COURSE GUIDE CONTENTS PAGE Introduction......................................................................................... iv What You Will Learn in This Course……………..………………… iv Course Aims....................................................................................... iv Course Objectives............................................................................... v Working through This Course............................................................. v Course Materials…………………………………………………….. v Study Units.......................................................................................... vi Textbooks and References…………………………………………... vii The Assignment File……………………………..………………….. vii The Presentation Schedule………………………………………….. vii Assessment......................................................................................... vii Tutor-Marked Assignment…………………………………………..
    [Show full text]