POWER

SHARING IN

NIGERI

A

CONFLICTS

OF

POWER SHARING:- Power sharing is the very spirit of

democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.

All communities, social groups get their say in the governance.

People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens acquire a stake in the system; through participation.

NEED FOR POWER SHARING:-

It avoids conflicts between different social groups. The absence of power sharing can result in division of the country.

Power sharing helps in avoiding the tyranny of majority. The tyranny of majority not only destroys the minority social groups but also the majority social group.

People’s voice forms the basis of a democratic government. Hence, power sharing is essential to respect the spirit of democracy.

The avoiding conflict in society and preventing majority tyranny are considered as prudential reasons for power sharing. Maintaining the spirit of democracy is considered as the moral reason for power sharing.

Nigeria:-

Nigeria

Located in Africa

Consist of 36 States

Known as Giant of AFRICA

7TH populous

Country in the world

Nigeria

CapitalAbuja

Benin in west,Chad 

& Cameroon in

east , Niger in north.

1 Indian rupee= 2.71

nigerian naira

Official Language is English

ETHNIC COMPOSITION:-

Ethnic composition of NIGERIA (174 million people)

Muslims 50.8 %

They live in the northern part of

the country

Most of them are Sunni Muslims

Christians 49.2%

They live in southern & central part of the country

As Muslims narrowly form the majority of the population, many of them demand the introduction of Sharia – the Islamic law – as the main source of legislation.

Twelve Northern states have introduced sharia as a basis of the executive and judicial branches of government in the years 1999 and 2000.

Beginning of Riots:-

In 1980’s military ruler of Nigeria General Ibrahim enrolled Nigeria in the Islamic conference

This was the move that aggravated religious tensions in the country particularly among Christians

Spreading of Sharia system all over the country lead to loss of powers to non Muslims

This lead to many riots all over the country

Sharia Conflict in nigeria:-

Sharia Conflict in Nigeria began in 1999 with the establishment of sharia law in several Muslim-majority states in Northern Nigeria, despite the secular Constitution of Nigeria and the disagreeing Christian minority.

From 2000 onwards, occasional riots between Christians and Muslims have resulted in thousands of deaths. Since 2009, when the Islamist group Boko Haram started an armed rebellion against the secular government of Nigeria, the conflict has become more violent.

In 2010, 55 people were killed in claimed or suspected Boko Haram attacks. By 2013, the annual death toll exceeded 1000, with a further sharp increase occurring in early 2014.

Some Riots which led to Conflict:-

Sharia conflict of Nigeria

(1999)

In 1953, Religious riot occured in northern city of

KANO

In 1980’s, Riot due to death of

Mohammed Marwa

In 1991, Reinhard Bonnke attempted a crusade in

Kano, causing a religious riot leading to the deaths of about a dozen people

Appointment of a Muslim politician, Alhaji Muktar Mohammed lead to riot

in 2000 & 2001 between Christians & Muslims.

Sharia in Nigeria:-

Green - Sharia plays no role in the judicial system

Yellow - Sharia applies in personal status issues only

Purple - Sharia applies in full, including criminal law

As of 2012, the following 12 states have instituted Sharia:

Zamfara State Kano State Sokoto StateKatsina StateBauchi StateBorno StateJigawa StateKebbi StateYobe State Kaduna StateNiger State Gombe State

Timeline :-1914 Nigeria was amalgamated, and the North

of the newly created country had been largely Muslim for centuries, whereas the South was mostly animist.

1914 Nigeria was amalgamated, only about a decade after the defeat of the Sokoto Caliphate and other Islamic states by the British which were to constitute much of Northern Nigeria.

1953 a religious riot occurred in the northern city of Kano.

1966 The Igbo massacre of 1966 in the North that followed the counter-coup of the same year had as a dual cause the Igbo officers' coup and pre-existing (sectarian) tensions between the Igbos and the local Muslims.

1980’s upsurge in violence due to death of Mohammed Marwa ("Maitatsine")

1980 Maitatsine's death

1991 the German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke attempted a crusade in Kano, causing a religious riot leading to the deaths of about a dozen people.

1999 Sharia was instituted as a main body of civil and criminal law in 9 Muslim-majority and in some parts of 3 Muslim-plurality states

1999 & 2000 Twelve Northern states have introduced sharia as a basis of the executive and judicial branches of government.

2000’s the 2000s decade would see inter-religious violence continue in Jos and Kaduna.

2001 October riot killed over 100 people in Kano State.

2002 The Nigerian journalist Isioma Daniel wrote an article that led to the demonstrations and violence that caused the deaths of over 200 in Kaduna

2004 Yelwa massacre occured which killed 100’s of people.

2009 Mohammad Yusuf was killed & nigerian government launched an investigation

2010 More than 500, mostly Christian people, were killed by religious violence in Jos.

January 2010 After the killing of M. Yusuf, the group carried out its first terrorist attack in Borno . It resulted in the killing of four people.

2012 The 9 states have instituted Sharia

2012 Abubakar Shekau, a former deputy to Yusuf, appeared in a video posted on YouTube. According to Reuters, Shekau took control of the group after Yusuf's death in 2009. Authorities had previously believed that Shekau died during the violence in 2009.

2013 ( MAY ) Nigerian governmental forces launched an offensive in the Borno region in an attempt to dislodge Boko Haram fighters after a state of emergency was called on May 14.

15 April 2014 Chibok kidnapping:terrorists abducted about 276 female students from a college in Chibok in Borno state.

20 May 2014 Jos Bombings:, a total of two bombs in the city of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, were detonated, resulting in the deaths of at least 118 people and the injury of more than 56 others.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA:-

The conflict has seen numerous human rights abuses conducted by the Nigerian security forces, in an effort to control the violence, as well as their encouragement of the formation of numerous vigilante groups (for example, the Civilian Joint Task Force).

A military Joint Task Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of human rights abuses after 950 suspected Boko Harām militants died in detention facilities run by Nigeria Force in the first half of 2013.

Boko Haram often engages in kidnapping young girls for use as cooks, in forced marriage; the most famous example being the Chibok kidnapping in 2014.

In addition to kidnapping child brides, Human Rights Watch states that Boko Harām uses child soldiers, including 12-year-olds.

This was done in nigeria which actually was against the human rights.

Conclusion :-

Therefore they can try to solve the problem by forming a constitution which gives equal power to everyone

Every difficult task has a simple solution

Everyone should think themselves as Nigerians & not as single and exclusive members

This can lead them to solve their conflicts

Krithik Jain

SatyamKarthik Gupta R.Arjun

SaravanaKirthi

varmanShreyans

Jain