17 - Political Violence

Summary

“Political Violence” examines the Nigeria’s sociopolitical landscape and how violence, by the nature of Nigeria’s plural ethnicity and differing religious ideologies, shapes it. This has produced repeated instances of violence that stand in the way of the nation’s collective growth. Deeper scrutiny reveals that the violence is arranged by people looking to gain political profit, score cheap religious points, or strike fear in the heart of the people, all to promote their own interests. It puts a dangling question mark on the ability to administer governance free of prejudice. Recent events in the country have cast doubt on whether its leaders can hold the heterogeneous society together. It springs from the fact that countless violent attacks, damaging lives and property, have devastated the collective outlook and psychology of the country. Everything hinges on the inherent distrust fueled by a baseless fear of others, which is continually instigated by the political elites to hold on to power. However, there is no limit to what the country can achieve in unity, due to its interminable list of natural and human resources. This unity can thus be attained through adequate negotiation and peaceful resolutions.