Osmond A G B O R Otora | University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. (original) (raw)
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Papers by Osmond A G B O R Otora
Breaking the conflict matrix: Conflict praxis and development policy in Nigeria, 2023
The paper argues that though conflicts in Nigeria attract enormous global attention, they have be... more The paper argues that though conflicts in Nigeria attract enormous global attention, they have become sporadic and increasingly common and protracted. Sectarian conflicts retard socioeconomic development, but contrariwise, development retards conflicts. This double causality gives rise to moral and malicious circles, where development succeeds, societies become progressively safer from violent conflict, making subsequent development easier. It is further argued that where development fails, communities are at high risk of becoming caught in a conflict matrix in which conflicts wreck the economy and increase the risk of further conflict. The paper concludes that the national prevalence of conflict is high because the Nigerian government has done little to avert it. More so, government inaction to stem the tide of conflicts in the country is vehemently rooted in ethno-linguistic or religious, socio-political and economic fragmentations which systematically increased the prevalence of conflict showing that ethnicity and religion are much less significant than is commonly believed because sectarian conflict is driven by ancestral, ethnic and religious hatreds.
Humanua Discourse, 2022
The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sor... more The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sore of boundary conflicts between Cross River and Benue and Cross River and Akwa Ibom. It traced the evolution of boundaries in Nigeria to the colonial impact and the creation of states and local government areas after Nigeria's independence in 1960. It is indicated that both international and local (inter-state) boundaries generate conflicts that are similar in their origin except that in the former, two sovereignties are involved. It further argues that as a recurrent issue in the management of the increasingly complex global system, territorial boundaries constitute the fundamental problem in the paradigm of national security. The paper concludes that since boundaries define an important segment of the environment within which decision-makers must function and contend, a multifaceted approach in the management and resolution of the complex impact of boundary conflicts must be critically analysed to positively act upon the dynamics of national development.
Humanus Discourse, 2022
The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and... more The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and cooperation within the context of official linguistic differences along and astride the Nigeria-Cameroon border by highlighting border conflicts as an obstacle to cross-border cooperation in post-colonial Africa. Data for the study was sourced through two methods of data gathering strategies of field investigation and supplemented with a desk review of the literature. Findings indicate that towards the end of the nineteenth century, European imperialist powers partitioned Africa among themselves by drawing lines of demarcation and foreign languages that split several homogenous culture areas without any regard to the facts of the familiar pattern of ethnic and cultural interlinks and penetration associated with millennial of intergroup relations in the continent and its sub-regions. Despite the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolution of 'boundary maintenance' at independence, it also, created the language problems currently experienced in Africa, thus creating a clog in the wheels of progressive efforts at regional cooperation and integration. The paper, therefore, concludes that while it may not be realistic to recommend that the superimposed official languages be dropped almost immediately, both countries must explore the language behaviour and preferences of the people of the border region to engender the possibility of the use of indigenous lingua franca for cross-border interaction and cooperation.
Global Journal of Arts Humanity and Social Sciences
When the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, pronounced the ban on Twitter in the country from ... more When the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, pronounced the ban on Twitter in the country from June 5 th, 2021, to 13 th January 2022, there was an outcry among the populace from both within and outside the country. This backlash was mostly felt by internet users who out rightly condemned the move, describing it as a draconian policy of subjugation, harassment, and intimidation of the citizens. It should be noted that the ban on Twitter came as a result of the nationwide protest tagged #EndSars. In this study, we set out to examine from a sociolinguistic perspective the internet reactions to the government policy of the Twitter ban by President Mohammed Buhari. Altogether thirty-six texts were elicited from four media outfits: Aljazeera, BBC and The Guardian Newspaper. Two of the media outfits are foreign while the remaining one is Nigeria-based. The data were codified and labeled as: DATUM 00-1-8 in Aljazeera news report, DATUM 00-1-8 in BBC news report and DATUM 00-1-13 in The Guardian news report. The analysis was carried out using a Discourse and Critical Discourse analytical approach. The analysis reveals cases of political disenchantments, linguistic labeling, political reverberations of unwanted policies, political intolerance, and ideological projections of ethnic cleavages.
Humanus Discourse , 2021
The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sor... more The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sore of boundary conflicts between Cross River and Benue and Cross River and Akwa Ibom. It traced the evolution of boundaries in Nigeria to the colonial impact and the creation of states and local government areas after Nigeria's independence in 1960. It is indicated that both international and local (inter-state) boundaries generate conflicts that are similar in their origin except that in the former, two sovereignties are involved. It further argues that as a recurrent issue in the management of the increasingly complex global system, territorial boundaries constitute the fundamental problem in the paradigm of national security. The paper concludes that since boundaries define an important segment of the environment within which decision-makers must function and contend, a multifaceted approach in the management and resolution of the complex impact of boundary conflicts must be critically analysed to positively act upon the dynamics of national development.
Humanus Discourse, 2022
The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and... more The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and cooperation within the context of official linguistic differences along and astride the Nigeria-Cameroon border by highlighting border conflicts as an obstacle to cross-border cooperation in post-colonial Africa. Data for the study was sourced through two methods of data gathering strategies of field investigation and supplemented with a desk review of the literature. Findings indicate that towards the end of the nineteenth century, European imperialist powers partitioned Africa among themselves by drawing lines of demarcation and foreign languages that split several homogenous culture areas without any regard to the facts of the familiar pattern of ethnic and cultural interlinks and penetration associated with millennial of intergroup relations in the continent and its sub-regions. Despite the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolution of 'boundary maintenance' at independence, it also, created the language problems currently experienced in Africa, thus creating a clog in the wheels of progressive efforts at regional cooperation and integration. The paper, therefore, concludes that while it may not be realistic to recommend that the superimposed official languages be dropped almost immediately, both countries must explore the language behaviour and preferences of the people of the border region to engender the possibility of the use of indigenous lingua franca for cross-border interaction and cooperation.
International Journal of Advanced Research
This study examines the Akam-Olulumo (Okuni) boundary conflict in historical perspective with the... more This study examines the Akam-Olulumo (Okuni) boundary conflict in historical perspective with the aim of determining the causes of the conflict as well as its impact on the socioeconomic development of the area. Using the resource-need theory of conflict, the study argues that the struggle for territorial space is inherent in man and hence a necessary consequence of human survival instinct. It further argues that in spite of the interdependent nature of the world, individuals, groups and communities continue to struggle for identity, purpose and power, negating the idealist philosophy which is primarily concerned with minimizing conflicts and promoting cooperation among peoples and giving credence to moral and human rights. The study submits that both communities should develop peaceful resolution strategies and promote cooperation between them to engender socioeconomic development.
International Journal of Advanced Research, 2019
Article, 2013
The paper attempts an economic analysis of some of the problems that arise from the existence of ... more The paper attempts an economic analysis of some of the problems that arise from the existence of artificial boundaries in Africa. The approach adopted is related to the studies of economics of criminal activity. Though, the objective is to show how economic analysis can be used to formulate appropriate policy prescription for the control of such externalities as illegal trade in cocoa across the border, the immigration of unauthorized aliens and criminals, to ameliorate the problem of tax evasion and most importantly, the development of border regions. The paper argues that, the phenomena often neglected in international trade theory are in fact the key elements in any critical consideration of cross-border trade and the problems of border regions. It concludes that since the theory of international trade is not well adapted for explaining the problems border regions, the special characteristics of the border areas and routine economic activities may be of limited value in the macro economic analysis. The paper offers some insights into the understanding of some of the problems occasioned by boundaries artificiality and implications for national development.
Breaking the conflict matrix: Conflict praxis and development policy in Nigeria, 2023
The paper argues that though conflicts in Nigeria attract enormous global attention, they have be... more The paper argues that though conflicts in Nigeria attract enormous global attention, they have become sporadic and increasingly common and protracted. Sectarian conflicts retard socioeconomic development, but contrariwise, development retards conflicts. This double causality gives rise to moral and malicious circles, where development succeeds, societies become progressively safer from violent conflict, making subsequent development easier. It is further argued that where development fails, communities are at high risk of becoming caught in a conflict matrix in which conflicts wreck the economy and increase the risk of further conflict. The paper concludes that the national prevalence of conflict is high because the Nigerian government has done little to avert it. More so, government inaction to stem the tide of conflicts in the country is vehemently rooted in ethno-linguistic or religious, socio-political and economic fragmentations which systematically increased the prevalence of conflict showing that ethnicity and religion are much less significant than is commonly believed because sectarian conflict is driven by ancestral, ethnic and religious hatreds.
Humanua Discourse, 2022
The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sor... more The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sore of boundary conflicts between Cross River and Benue and Cross River and Akwa Ibom. It traced the evolution of boundaries in Nigeria to the colonial impact and the creation of states and local government areas after Nigeria's independence in 1960. It is indicated that both international and local (inter-state) boundaries generate conflicts that are similar in their origin except that in the former, two sovereignties are involved. It further argues that as a recurrent issue in the management of the increasingly complex global system, territorial boundaries constitute the fundamental problem in the paradigm of national security. The paper concludes that since boundaries define an important segment of the environment within which decision-makers must function and contend, a multifaceted approach in the management and resolution of the complex impact of boundary conflicts must be critically analysed to positively act upon the dynamics of national development.
Humanus Discourse, 2022
The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and... more The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and cooperation within the context of official linguistic differences along and astride the Nigeria-Cameroon border by highlighting border conflicts as an obstacle to cross-border cooperation in post-colonial Africa. Data for the study was sourced through two methods of data gathering strategies of field investigation and supplemented with a desk review of the literature. Findings indicate that towards the end of the nineteenth century, European imperialist powers partitioned Africa among themselves by drawing lines of demarcation and foreign languages that split several homogenous culture areas without any regard to the facts of the familiar pattern of ethnic and cultural interlinks and penetration associated with millennial of intergroup relations in the continent and its sub-regions. Despite the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolution of 'boundary maintenance' at independence, it also, created the language problems currently experienced in Africa, thus creating a clog in the wheels of progressive efforts at regional cooperation and integration. The paper, therefore, concludes that while it may not be realistic to recommend that the superimposed official languages be dropped almost immediately, both countries must explore the language behaviour and preferences of the people of the border region to engender the possibility of the use of indigenous lingua franca for cross-border interaction and cooperation.
Global Journal of Arts Humanity and Social Sciences
When the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, pronounced the ban on Twitter in the country from ... more When the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, pronounced the ban on Twitter in the country from June 5 th, 2021, to 13 th January 2022, there was an outcry among the populace from both within and outside the country. This backlash was mostly felt by internet users who out rightly condemned the move, describing it as a draconian policy of subjugation, harassment, and intimidation of the citizens. It should be noted that the ban on Twitter came as a result of the nationwide protest tagged #EndSars. In this study, we set out to examine from a sociolinguistic perspective the internet reactions to the government policy of the Twitter ban by President Mohammed Buhari. Altogether thirty-six texts were elicited from four media outfits: Aljazeera, BBC and The Guardian Newspaper. Two of the media outfits are foreign while the remaining one is Nigeria-based. The data were codified and labeled as: DATUM 00-1-8 in Aljazeera news report, DATUM 00-1-8 in BBC news report and DATUM 00-1-13 in The Guardian news report. The analysis was carried out using a Discourse and Critical Discourse analytical approach. The analysis reveals cases of political disenchantments, linguistic labeling, political reverberations of unwanted policies, political intolerance, and ideological projections of ethnic cleavages.
Humanus Discourse , 2021
The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sor... more The paper provides a thematic survey of conflicts development over the volatile and festering sore of boundary conflicts between Cross River and Benue and Cross River and Akwa Ibom. It traced the evolution of boundaries in Nigeria to the colonial impact and the creation of states and local government areas after Nigeria's independence in 1960. It is indicated that both international and local (inter-state) boundaries generate conflicts that are similar in their origin except that in the former, two sovereignties are involved. It further argues that as a recurrent issue in the management of the increasingly complex global system, territorial boundaries constitute the fundamental problem in the paradigm of national security. The paper concludes that since boundaries define an important segment of the environment within which decision-makers must function and contend, a multifaceted approach in the management and resolution of the complex impact of boundary conflicts must be critically analysed to positively act upon the dynamics of national development.
Humanus Discourse, 2022
The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and... more The paper examined the role of language translation as a major tool in crossborder governance and cooperation within the context of official linguistic differences along and astride the Nigeria-Cameroon border by highlighting border conflicts as an obstacle to cross-border cooperation in post-colonial Africa. Data for the study was sourced through two methods of data gathering strategies of field investigation and supplemented with a desk review of the literature. Findings indicate that towards the end of the nineteenth century, European imperialist powers partitioned Africa among themselves by drawing lines of demarcation and foreign languages that split several homogenous culture areas without any regard to the facts of the familiar pattern of ethnic and cultural interlinks and penetration associated with millennial of intergroup relations in the continent and its sub-regions. Despite the Organization of African Unity (OAU) resolution of 'boundary maintenance' at independence, it also, created the language problems currently experienced in Africa, thus creating a clog in the wheels of progressive efforts at regional cooperation and integration. The paper, therefore, concludes that while it may not be realistic to recommend that the superimposed official languages be dropped almost immediately, both countries must explore the language behaviour and preferences of the people of the border region to engender the possibility of the use of indigenous lingua franca for cross-border interaction and cooperation.
International Journal of Advanced Research
This study examines the Akam-Olulumo (Okuni) boundary conflict in historical perspective with the... more This study examines the Akam-Olulumo (Okuni) boundary conflict in historical perspective with the aim of determining the causes of the conflict as well as its impact on the socioeconomic development of the area. Using the resource-need theory of conflict, the study argues that the struggle for territorial space is inherent in man and hence a necessary consequence of human survival instinct. It further argues that in spite of the interdependent nature of the world, individuals, groups and communities continue to struggle for identity, purpose and power, negating the idealist philosophy which is primarily concerned with minimizing conflicts and promoting cooperation among peoples and giving credence to moral and human rights. The study submits that both communities should develop peaceful resolution strategies and promote cooperation between them to engender socioeconomic development.
International Journal of Advanced Research, 2019
Article, 2013
The paper attempts an economic analysis of some of the problems that arise from the existence of ... more The paper attempts an economic analysis of some of the problems that arise from the existence of artificial boundaries in Africa. The approach adopted is related to the studies of economics of criminal activity. Though, the objective is to show how economic analysis can be used to formulate appropriate policy prescription for the control of such externalities as illegal trade in cocoa across the border, the immigration of unauthorized aliens and criminals, to ameliorate the problem of tax evasion and most importantly, the development of border regions. The paper argues that, the phenomena often neglected in international trade theory are in fact the key elements in any critical consideration of cross-border trade and the problems of border regions. It concludes that since the theory of international trade is not well adapted for explaining the problems border regions, the special characteristics of the border areas and routine economic activities may be of limited value in the macro economic analysis. The paper offers some insights into the understanding of some of the problems occasioned by boundaries artificiality and implications for national development.