BY THE HOUSE OF PALM.

Being the texts of a presentation by the Representatives of Akwa-Ibom, Borno, Kaduna, Abia, Katsina and Ekiti State in the Nigeria Rebirth National Development TV Programme.

To start with, crisis management can be referred to as the diplomatic steps being put in place to resolve a brewing crisis or an ongoing conflict between two or more distinct entities.

Naturally, when two or more homogeneous or heterogeneous entities coexist together in a community, a centrifugal force tending to separate them often evolve i.e. the repulsion by some groups towards regionalism. This issue often lead to structural inbalance most especially if the Government at the centre cannot effectively manage and control the brewing ethnic regional forces for the sake of their peaceful coexistence.

Certain underlying factors often lead to conflicts between two or more groups. The level of the development of the people will influence the kind of conflict between them and this same level of human development will also determine how such crisis will be solved.

For the purpose of this presentation, we will be classifying crisis into 2 different types:

- INTERNAL CRISIS
- EXTERNAL CRISIS

In addition, ENTITY A & ENTITY B shall also be used for practical examples for the purpose of this presentation.
The imaginary entities can either depict a group of people or a nation, an association, a state, a movement, an organization and many others.
Hypothetically, the distinct entities A and B will be assumed to have different characteristics which are clearly expressed @ Table 1.0.

INTERNAL CRISIS: this can also be referred to as homogeneous crisis, which entails the conflict between two or more elements (people) of an entity with thesame characteristics such as identity, culture, tradition, value system, ideology etc.
This type of crisis seldom happen within a community, an organization, or in a group, in a quest for survival and competition.

"It is this same urge that separate us from animals, it is this same urge that has been responsible for civilization itself" - Prince UCI.

At this point, we will like to outline some causes of this Internal Crisis:

1. Scarcity of resources such as shelter, food and others.
2. Uneven access to economic opportunities.
3. Unequal access to education.
4. Poverty.
5. Deprivation of fundamental human right, such as freedom, equality, justice, security, welfare of the people and many others.

All the factors listed above can erupt crisis within a group of people with thesame identity.


EXTERNAL CRISIS: this can be referred to as a heterogeneous crisis, which entails the conflict between two or more entities with different identity, tradition, culture, value system, background and others. For a practical example, this kind of crisis often ignites when the regionalised ENTITY A & ENTITY B are being merged together, while at thesame time being ruled by a Government at the centre.

The inability of the Government at the centre to manage and control the regional forces of the ENTITIES A & B will natutally create a divisive tendency.

At this point, we will like to enumerate some of the causes of heterogeneous crisis:
1. Hegemony
2. Unequal access to economic opportunities
3. The claim of supremacy
4. Tribal discrimination and racism.
5. My house - My home mentality.
6. The politics of recognition.

We will like to briefly explain these underlying factors that can cause external crisis;

1. Hegemony: this is the excessive use of power by a group over the other ones, be it the majority or the minority in any instance. For a practical example, if Entity A is being excessively given a political power than the Entity B, then B might start reacting afterwards, thereby leading to conflicts.

2. Unequal access to economic opportunities: a situation whereby the resources of the nation is being mismanaged, irrationalized and the resultant wealth generated is being unevenly distributed among the people, this will unavoidably lead crisis between the distinct Entity A & B in the quest for survival and competition.

3. The claim of supremacy: practical examples are land disputes between bounded ethnic groups and communal clashes due to illegal territorial protectorate.

4. Group Pluralities: a phenomenon - when Entity A and B comes together to form a multicultural society, a natural centrifugal force tends towards separatism. If not properly managed, the resultant effect is crisis.

5. Tribal discrimination and Racism: whenever Entity A in any manner claims superiority over B, the resultant reaction seldom leads to conflicts if not controlled.

6. The politics of recognition: In Governance, the quest for Entity A to always be in charge over B or vice versa will natural create a divisive politics, thereby leading conflicts if not properly managed.

7. My House - My Home Gestures: In a situation whereby Entity A migrates to the community of Entity B, after spending several years of fruitfulness in B's land, yet A does not take responsibility of contributing to the B's community development. Whereas, the said "A" only visits his so called home (State of origin) during festive periods. This attitude is wrong, the nation building process is our collective responsibility irrespective of our state of origin.


At this point, we will like to enumerate 3 viable modules to solve the afore-listed internal and external crisis, out of many.

1. Proper Orientation: Entities A & B must be enlightened on the need to peacefully coexist together as one, for the purpose of maximizing the strenght in their diversity, for the pursuit of the Nation's prosperity. The NOA - National Orientation Agency needs to take up this huge tasks of strategising more effective means of educating Nigerians, in the rural and urban areas, and all cadres of citizens on embrazing tolerance of other ethnic nationalities. The citizens must also be well-oriented on having the sense of national consciousness, respect for other groups' value system, culture, tradition, way of life, ideology and other.
This is the new message, "Love must be our new Lingua Franca in Nigeria" - JOS

2. Reformation of the Nigerian alien policy: if the Entity A migrates to the territory of B, A becomes an alien therein. In such a situation, what will be constitutional provision of Entity A's inalienable economic, social and political rights and benefits in B' territory? All these laws and policies should be well defined with the effective implementation and enforcement. Hence, there is a pressing need for an effective National Integration policies in Nigeria - the pathway to human development.

3. Using a mediator for diplomatic resolution of conflicts between two or more groups; this is a viable method to manage any brewing crisis or an ongoing conflicts in various Nigerian communities. An intermediary could be employed by either of the party in settling such uprisings, enlightening both parties on the need for peaceful co-existence.

We will end this presentation by this: "the desire to be important has always been the deepest urge in human nature".

God Bless Nigeria.
Thank You.

The Solution to a task given to The House of Palm of the Nigeria Rebirth National Development Reality TV Programme - during the course of their 60 days travail in the Labour Room, in the quest to birthe a New Nation - Nigeria.

Written By Jawolusi Oluwaseun Solomon