The fitful path: Presidential authoritarianism, electoral politics and democratization process in Nigeria since 1999

As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close majority of states in Africa have come under multiparty democracy. While this represents a tremendous achievement, yet the march towards deepening the democratization process on the continent is experiencing reversals. Particularly troubling is the emergent of one party dominant rule and streaks of democratic authoritarianism being exhibits in some of Africa‟s new democracies a crisis that is better illustrated by the Nigeria experience since 1999. While Nigeria‟s transition elections of 1999 was significant in that it brought to an end 15 years of military dictatorship yet the pattern of dominance by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that emanates from the general elections give an ominous signs. Under the banner of the PDP, President Obasanjo all through his eight years tenure vigorously pursues a dubious one party dominant rule. The ruling party under former President Obasanjo maximally deployed the instrument of patronage, selective use of anti-corruption probes and most importantly the undermining of democratic competition through the classic rigging of the 2003 and 2007 general elections. Nowhere is the stimulating landslide victory of the ruling PDP more glaring than in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's oil bearing region where the PDP has maintain a stifling grip on the political space since 1999. Thus this study seeks to analysis the trend of democratic competition and the management of the democratization process. In particular it x-rays oppositional politics and the perversion of the electoral process by the ruling party. It also discusses how the militarization of electoral competition and perversion of electoral process has contributes to the escalation of violence in Nigeria's oil producing Niger Delta

‘Living Rugged, Dying Brutal’: Understanding Gang Lifeworlds through Death

This study examined death rituals as a frame to understanding the meaning of life and the afterlife from the perspective of gang members, and how these meanings frame the violent sub-culture of gangs. Utilizing a case study analysis of the Iceland and Deebam gangs, the two leading gangs in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, we identified a collection of material and non-material deathrituals which are separately embedded in the ideological orientations as well as practical activities of both gangs. Our findings showed that the meaning of life and death is drawn from a belief system that holds a promise of ‘life after death’ or of ‘dead gang members having lasting feasts with their gods’. Such post-death privileges are believed to be a reward for gang loyalty often manifestedthrough the ‘ruggedity’ or ‘brutality’ of the deceased gang members while alive. This implies that upon demise, membership and social status of gang members transcend to the afterlife. We argued that it is these belief systems amongst gang members that frame the forms of death rituals that are usually characterized by swearing by the gods, promise of revenge and other forms of rugged or brutal show of violence that incentivizes/sustains the violent sub-culture and precarity of the gang life

From Campuses to Communities: Community-Based Cultism and Local Responses in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Campus cultism which began in Nigeria in the 50s has dispersed into residential communities. This paper examined the infiltration of cultism from campuses to residential communities in the Niger Delta region (NDR) of Nigeria. It traced the origin of cultism in the NDR, investigated the diffusion of cultism to residential communities, examined community response to it and implications of community response for peace and security of the region. Using both primary and secondary sources of data collection, the paper traced campus cultism in the NDR to the establishment of universities in the region in the 70s and 80s. Cultism dispersed into residential communities through establishment of affiliate groups in communities by major cult groups and expulsion of students from campuses for belonging to cult groups during the federal government anti-cultism campaigns in 1999. Due to the criminal activities of the cult groups in the NDR and ineptitude of the police, communities have responded by creating vigilante groups but this has only promoted cycle of violence. The paper recommended that government should tackle community-based cultism and also strengthen the Nigeria Police Force to be responsive to insecurity

Causes, Effects and Strategies for Eradicating Cultism among Students in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria-A Case Study of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra State, Nigeria

The issue of cultism has in spite of many efforts at reducing it, soared up in the Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. Cultism has cast gloom over the educational sector. It is repeatedly said that the youths are the future leaders but it is a little wonder what the future holds for the youth of this country which has a good proportion of her youth as secret cult member. It therefore became imperative to carefully redress the issue of cultism in our tertiary institution where reason should rule over emotion. Undoubtedly, the issue has assumed horrifying proportion as cultic violence thrives even more. The main purpose of this study was to find out the causes, effects and strategies to stop cultism in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It was discovered from the study that cultism among the students of tertiary institutions is real and urgent solutions is needed by government and institution at large to curb it. The parents must work closely with the institutions authority to arrive at a lasting solution. Keywords: Cultism, Nigerian, Institutions, Youths and Violence

Non-State Security Actors and Rural Community Development in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

Non-State security actors are organised agitating armed groups that operate in the Niger Delta region as social movements to express their anger, sometimes violently arising from the perceived frustration and marginalisation by the Nigerian State and its agents in the region. They are classified into three groups, the militia groups, the cult groups, and gangs, who operate independently in the region. This research is aimed at identifying the characteristics and activities of the non-state security actors and their impact on development trajectory of their host communities. The study is carried out in the Niger Delta communities within the period of 2000-2017. We adopted frustration-aggression theory as our theoretical framework of analysis. Primary and secondary sources of data were generated, and analysed to achieve the objectives of the study. In our findings, we noted that the non-state security actors have some basic characteristics that are peculiar to them in the region. They aim at demanding for equitable distribution of the State resources for the development of the rural communities in the region. In the process, they carry out several activities to achieve their aim. Regrettably, these activities of the non-state security actors have more negative than positive impact on the rural communities in the region. The study proffered strategies to curb the activities of the non-state security actors to enhance rural community development.Key words: Non-State Security Actors, rural community development, Niger Delta, frustration, aggressio

Higher Education and the Challenges of Secret Cults

It is a truism that secret cult, as the name signifies, is secret and evil. On the other hand, challenges in whatever form posing a threat to higher education, which is conceived with the aim of bringing light and emancipation to mankind should be surmounted. This paper critically examined the challenges posed by secret cults to higher education using the descriptive survey design. The sample for the study comprised 400 of 300 level students of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the University of Benin, Benin and the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. Rapid increases in the recorded incidences of violence attributed to cult subcultures were witnessed. The findings showed that cult/gang groups operated violently and that a lot of people (especially students) had been maimed and many lives had been lost through their activities on many Nigerian university campuses. Panacea to this ugly incidence within the higher education set-up is proffered as lasting solution.Key Words: Higher Education, Secret Cult

Community Policing and Insecurity in Rivers State (2015-2019)

The main goal of the Nigeria Police Force is to protect life and property of its citizens but the recent trend of insecurity in Rivers State shows the inability of the Nigeria Police Force in performing these essential functions. These issues can be attributed to inadequate manpower, poor understanding of the environment they are posted to fight insecurity in Rivers State. This issue has created the need for community policing in order to reduce insecurity in Rivers State. This prompted the study to examine the prospect of community policing as a panacea to the problem of insecurity in Rivers State. Therefore, the study developed the following research questions: What is the role of community policing in reducing insecurity in various communities? What is the core principle of community policing in reducing insecurity? What are the challenges of community policing in reducing insecurity in Rivers State? The study adopted the broken windows theory by James Wilson and George Kelling as its framework of analysis. A self-designed structured questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents, while purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed to select three (3) communities out of two hundred and thirty-four (234) and three (3) local government areas out of twenty-three (23) in Rivers State, with a total sample size of three hundred (300), while two hundred and eighty (280) questionnaires were retrieved. Mean and rank order statistical methods were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that the major role of community policing is to protect life and property, covering and curbing the nooks and cronies in the communities, rapid response to security threats to prevent the breakdown of law and order. The core values of community policing are transparency and openness in their policing function, demonstrate commitment at all times to deliver best quality services. The challenges facing community policing in Rivers State are lack of trust between the police, vigilante groups and the members of the communities, poor public image of the police. The study thus recommends that there is a need for the Nigerian Police to strengthen their cooperation with the members of the various communities in Rivers State. This cooperation will endear them to the people instead of the present mutual suspicion and distrust which alienate people from them. In other words, it will improve community relations with the police, as well as increase information sharing, intelligence, crime detection and prevention

TOXICOLOGICAL SCREENING OF A NOVEL SIDDHA POLYHERBAL FORMULATION “SIRINGIPAERATHI CHOORANAM”

Objective: The aim of the present study is to validate the safety efficacy of “Siringipaerathi Chooranam” (SPC) in acute and sub-acute studies in the animal model. Methods: Siddha system of medicine is the one of the earliest systems of medicine, which was practiced by our spiritual scientists. It constitutes plants, animals, metals and mineral formulations. Chooranam are fine to dry powders of drugs. Hence I have preferred to choose “Siringipaerathi Chooranam” (SPC) which is indicated for hepatoprotective activity and it was prepared as per the classical Siddha literature. The adult wistar albino rats were used for acute toxicity for 14 d and sub-acute studies for 28 d as per OECD guidelines 423 and 407. The test drug was made Suspension with 2% CMC with uniform mixing and was administered to the groups of Wistar albino rats. The drugs were orally administered to the dosage in the levels of 100, 200 and 2000 mg/dose in acute and subacute studies. The ingredients of SPC are Inji (Zingiber officinalis), Milagu (Piper nigrum), Thippili (Piper longum), Thipili moolam (Root of Piper longum), Lavanga pathiri (Cinnamomum tamala),Elam (Elettaria cardamomum), Kodiveli ver (Plumbago zeylanica), Lavanga pattai (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), Moongil uppu (Bambusa arundinaceae), Sandhana thool (Santalum album), Vilamichu-ver (Plectranthus vettiveroides), Sathikkai (Myristica fragrans), Seeragam (Cuminum cyminum), Kirambu (Syzygium aromaticum), Sugar (Saccharum officinarum), Nei (Ghee). Results: The present investigation shows that there were no significant toxicity changes seen during the study. The body weight, food, water intake, behavioral, CNS, ANS, CVS, Vitals, Hematology, Biochemical and Histopathology of kidney, liver, spleen were observed both in control and test group animals were appears to be normal range. Conclusion: Thus the authors conclude from the results that the safety efficacy of SPC through acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in rodents

CULTISM AND THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN VALUES AND SOCIETY

For the past few decades, the menace of cultism has remained a social grenade that has persistently plagued Nigeria particularly. Being a socio-cultural confraternity that started as a constructive violence against the excesses of colonialism, it has become utterly regrettable that regardless of its birth from a noble intention, it is presently a woe to life, cultural values and the future of Nigerian people and society. We are therefore confronted with the questions of the origin of cultism, its spread to the entire Nigerian society. How did secret cult start in Nigeria? Why do people join cultism? What is their mode of initiation? Why has it continued to thrive despite efforts at eradicating it? Does the complicity of the authority promote cult activities? How does it undermine African cultural values? With the prevalent cult activities, what does the future hold for Nigeria? This essay concerns itself with the above questions. The method of analysis and description is adopted in this discourse. The findings of this piece show that cultism is an age-long association across the globe. Membership cuts across all members of the society - the elites as well as the commoners. It is also found that secret cult constitutes a serious threat to the social fabrics and values of the African people at large. The author suggests that a conscientious and a sincere effort be made towards nipping this hydra-headed monster in the bud. This can be achieved if, without prejudice, members are severely punished as a deterrent to those who may nurse the intention of joining cults. Keywords: Cultism, Violence, Nigeria Campus, African Value