Military and Political Obligation in Nigeria.
Military and Political Obligation in Nigeria.
Military and Political Obligation in Nigeria.
BY
OGBEIDE CLIFFORD
MATRIC NUMBER 23278
DECEMBER 1999
1
CERTIFICATION
Ekpoma.
_________________ _____________________
MR. U.B. CHIZEA MR. P.E. AGBEBAKU
Project Supervisor Head of Department
_____________________________
EXTERNAL EXAMINER
2
DEDICATION
And also to my later parents Mr. & Mrs. M.E. OGBIEDE whom
brought me into this world, set the pace and standard on which
for my sake and also provided the resources needed during the
course of my studies.
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
spite of all odds. Also not left out are Mr. James Ogbeide, Mr. &
S.O.J. Ojo who despite his busy schedule still created time to
work especially military analysis. And also Dr. F.E. Iyoha who
scripts.
Also not left are my family friends and bosom friends who gave
4
memorable and pleasurable. They are Chief Steve Okolo
family, Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Okhemesimi & family, Linda Edema-
Silo, Ms. Stella Amadedon & family, Toju Amadedon, Mr. & Mrs.
Ofomola, Ese London, Mr. & Mrs. Friday Enadeghe & family,
IDIAGHE & family. Finally, Efosa Osaro and Mr. & Mrs. Sunny
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page I
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of contents vi
Abstract viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.4 Hypothesis
1.6 Methodology
6
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation
Bibliography
7
ABSTRACT
terms.
society.
8
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
democratic rule.
decree and edicts which enable the military cabal to make laws
9
responsible to anybody and disobeyed the lay down procedure
In military regime, law existed for the strong and might is right.
had a say in the affairs that concerned them and as such, they
people did not elect them into the office they occupy and no
10
The objective of this study is to examine the effect of military
hostage2.
11
Low political culture:- With the overthrown of a legitimate
likely to be at low ebb while law and order are most likely to be
threatened4.
this, the military precludes the judiciary from inquiry into the
12
If it does exist in Nigeria, it is the objective of this study
1.4 HYPOTHESIS
13
suggest explanations for certain phenomenon and guild in the
status.
political participation.
can prevent the elite from imposing the supremacy over the
rest society6.
14
Because of their power, their organization, their political skill or
relations with other group in the society. The elite regard power
15
a. Society is divided into the powerless majority and
this, the researcher means that the military over the years had
16
1.6 METHODOLOGY
has already been written on the subject and this providing fresh
independent societies12.
17
two different ways of expressing one things. The metaphorical
Nigeria.
18
1.8 END NOTE
9. Ibid P. 32
10. Iyoha, F.E; Public Policy Analysis; Pub. 303 1998
P. 5 – 6 unpublished material.
11. Alan Isaak C.; Scope and method of political science;
The Dorsey Press 1985, P. 272
12. Kennedy Galvin; The military in third world; The
Macmillan Press Ltd, 1980 P. 8
13. Rapheal D.D; Problems of Political Philosophy; The
Macmillan Press Ltd, 1970, P. 27.
14. Ibid P. 78
19
CHAPTER TWO
For all practical purposes and intent, military rule of any type,
20
Another review sees the military as the only institution that
The military comes into power to maintain law and order, and
other package that are geared toward alleviating the plight and
elected government.
21
Military as a suppressive regime, monopolized violence in the
gain by doing so. They are conscious that the state has a
with those conditions of social life which are necessary for the
the state is not doing its duty – in order words, when its actions
22
obedience5. As Laski suggests, the state as it was and is has
23
the rulers, corresponding to right against the citizens to receive
24
discipline in way of operation, their belief is obedience before
complain11.
independence.
former colonial forces from which they sprang their current role
25
civil war, sudden onslaughts on presidential places, and
the stresses, that such disputes are introduced into the armed
lack what other new states of the former colonial world had,
26
namely, an army which could be a modernizing and stabilizing
about its motivation for inter in the first place18. No longer saint
more different to the pull of greed, power, hate and the quest
27
instigation of fear. But the absolute reliance on violence, which
the barrack and those on the soap box. It also creates changes
enormous21.
28
localize the unequal and exploitation relation of production and
exchange, the state can hardly meet the basic needs of the
to the state and this preside over the allocation of public funds
This mean that not only do military rulers and regimes fail to
29
by centralization of power and absence of accountability,
times, but it is a national role for the army and in the absence
30
More than a decade ago, prominent scholars accepted the
military not only could not modernize society but also created
31
industry are other economic rights which are necessary to
for the public good to elect his rulers and call them to account
for their conduct in office and all these enable the citizens too,
own personalities.
32
dictatorship around the world and Nigeria in particular. The
power and unleash terror upon its citizenry that they are
government.
desires such as, the desires for sex, food, shelter, fame, riches
33
short”33. Since the state of nature was not conducive to their
achieve peace and to this end, they must give the egoistic
the contract was that each citizen agrees to surrender all his
this contract will return men back to the chaotic state of nature.
he failed in his first duty, which is that of protecting the life and
34
limbs of the citizens. As we can see in the state of nature,
“The only way to erect such a common power… is, to confer all
their power and strength upon one man, or upon one assembly
of men”34.
Hobbes believes that these laws are only effective, if they are
35
being in the hand of a king because it has greater consistency
not prohibited.
36
The subjects are therefore obliged to obey as long as the
all men desire, and acting contrary will bring man back to the
Aristotle, the state originated for “the sake of life, and countries
37
contract between themselves to relinquish the power and
His work could then offer the solution by protecting the citizens
modern life the idea of monarchy is no more there. And his idea
38
He terms the natural political obligation as a natural necessity
to reason that if one cannot fulfill that promise he can break it,
39
Born in England, he lived in a turbulent time, it was at this
period Charles the 6th was beheaded and William of Orange was
40
Locke uses the state of nature as a premise in arriving at his
Hobbes was a one way contract that Locke was a two way
the executive, and the judiciary. And one should not mingle
he did not believe in the divine right if kings but the consent of
free and moreover, within the bounds of the law of nature they
41
men are created by God and therefore they are his property
and they are obliged to carry out his desired rather than their
show that God has set some people above the other. We are
does not give any justification for this assertion other than
42
which must certainly be greater where men
one may claim that he was injured; another may deny it,
her.
broken.
43
Locke says that society originate in an attempt to develop such
life.
44
Individualism, he postulated that Locke was more interested in
bourgeois ramification.
society.
45
The social contract of Rousseau is important in two respects.
the society. Hence he posits that the general will which is a sort
46
methodological individualism as we find in both Hobbes to a
men’s material well being it has not led to any kind of cultural
revolt against despotic rule. His theory also gave birth to both
the state.
47
to the individual will and the will of all since it implies the
individual will and the will of all, and that it is meant for the
detected.
To this two, Rousseau could argue back that since the state
serves as a moral agent one could say that the whole purpose
48
of the state is for the common good. Good defines in this sense
about what the common good is. Hence, there might not a
consensus.
49
2.2 END NOTE
6. Ibid P. 20
10. Ibid . 10
13. Ibid P. 13
14. Ibid P. 8
15. Ibid P. 10
50
16. Simeon Sheldon W; The military and security in third
world, domestic and international
impact; George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd,
1962, P. 6.
18. Ibid P. 66
19. Ibid P. 67
20. Ibid P. 68
21. Ibid P. 69
22. Ibid P. 70
23. Ibid P. 71
25. Ibid P. 56
26. Ibid P. 57
28. Ibid P. 94
29. Ibid P. 15
32. Ibid P. 21
51
34. Watkins, J.W.N; Hobbes systems of ideas; Great
Britain Redwood Press Ltd, 1963,
P.116 – 119
38. Appadorai
52
CHAPTER THREE
The Nigeria army emerged out of the ashes of the Royal West
were slaves that fled from their masters and took refuge under
Governor Glover2.
known, whose numbers soon rose to over 100 men, there was
There was the oil river irregulars raised between 1891 and
53
reforming some constabulary duties. But as a result of the
deviation from the role for which it was constituted. The force
Northern region5.
was regarded as a
imperialistic ends”6.
54
regiment under the West African frontier force. It was in
8,600 men9.
to one Eze who said “the army was like a place for the illiterate
55
during the last was (second world war) only confirmed this
opinion.
56
Defending Nigeria from external aggression:- Constitutionally
integrity, borders on land, sea and air from being violated and
clashes.
57
Reforming other functions as prescribed to them: The
government13.
constitutional backing.
58
Obligation in its broad sense is a duty an individual owes to the
state he or she want to belong for their own good. That is,
gain from such belonging or for the fear of being punishes. This
on one hand, and the state on the other. The state has a duty
necessity of government14.
59
democratically elected government during electioneering
60
programmes and see to it that such project such as the iron
reliance16.
reliance17.
61
corruption had done to the country and promised to stamp out
Sani Abacha was not left out in this hanky-panky same of the
programme etc.
62
Because constitution is usually suspended during military the
citizens and the helpless judiciary could not compel the military
an elected government.
human right and disregard for the rule of law. Because they are
63
people, their yawning and aspiration are not taken into
the next election. And in doing this, they are not only seen as
rulers upon the totality of the Nigeria people and their rulership
make law for the vast majority and so doing, they were neither
a say in the affairs that concerned them as such could not sue
64
such are no political obligation and responsibility to anybody as
no same mind citizen dares the man with the gun. Under
on how to use and mange violence could not have been said to
65
Finally, political obligation cannot be gotten from a regime that
66
the head of state usually appoints military governors or
67
primaries, and also annulled June 12 Presidential
presidential ambition.
68
such order. This goes a long way to demonstrate the non-
69
3.3 END NOTES
2. Ibid P. 12
3. Ibid P. 13
5. Ibid P. 17
6. Ibid P. 18
10. Ibid P. 12
11. Ibid P. 13
17. Ibid P. 28
70
18. Ibid P. 30
71
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY
came into existence which was later headed by the Gen. Aguiyi
and rulership upon the totality of the Nigeria people and their
cabal to make laws for the vast majority and so doing not
72
could not sue those in authority as the case may be in a
government.
outer clause during military rule, the citizen cannot compel the
73
CONCLUSION
74
Finally, political obligation cannot be gotten from a regime that
democratically elected.
RECOMMENDATION
fundamental obligations:
hierarchies.
75
5. The civil authority should provide incentives, job
duties.
76
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
77
12. Tosto Leo; War and Peace; Macmillan press Ltd,
1970
MAGAZINE
UNPUBLISHED MATERIALS
78