Elites Predation and Insecurity: A Perspective on the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria

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Crosdel O. Emuedo
Crosdel O. Emuedo
σ
Dr. Henry Oghaotor
Dr. Henry Oghaotor
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Dr. Michael Abam
Dr. Michael Abam
α Western Delta University

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Elites Predation and Insecurity: A Perspective on the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria

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Abstract

The post-colonial Nigerian state imbibed the gory traits of the colonial state; it served mostly as a tool for economic exploitation. The emergent elites saw governance solely, as a means for predation, thus, excluding the masses and weaker political elites. Oil further deepened the chasm, as, contending elites used oil revenues to fund and reproduce their dominance rather than provide public goods; utterly disconnecting the elite from the people. To gain political power; the means of predation, the elite resorted to votebuying, and as, the electoral process became more competitive, they turned to even more weird ways; recruitment and arming of youths to secure votes; with unintended costs. The paper argues that the Boko Haram, which for years has caused dire insecurity in Nigeria’s North East is an unintended cost of elite predatory antics. The paper concludes that except there is vigorous deference of elite predisposition to predation, their actions may utterly emasculate national cohesion.

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Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

Data Availability

Not applicable for this article.

How to Cite This Article

Crosdel O. Emuedo. 2015. \u201cElites Predation and Insecurity: A Perspective on the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria\u201d. Global Journal of Human-Social Science - F: Political Science GJHSS-F Volume 15 (GJHSS Volume 15 Issue F5): .

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Issue Cover
GJHSS Volume 15 Issue F5
Pg. 25- 38
Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

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GJHSS-F Classification: FOR Code: 360199
Version of record

v1.2

Issue date

September 21, 2015

Language
en
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The post-colonial Nigerian state imbibed the gory traits of the colonial state; it served mostly as a tool for economic exploitation. The emergent elites saw governance solely, as a means for predation, thus, excluding the masses and weaker political elites. Oil further deepened the chasm, as, contending elites used oil revenues to fund and reproduce their dominance rather than provide public goods; utterly disconnecting the elite from the people. To gain political power; the means of predation, the elite resorted to votebuying, and as, the electoral process became more competitive, they turned to even more weird ways; recruitment and arming of youths to secure votes; with unintended costs. The paper argues that the Boko Haram, which for years has caused dire insecurity in Nigeria’s North East is an unintended cost of elite predatory antics. The paper concludes that except there is vigorous deference of elite predisposition to predation, their actions may utterly emasculate national cohesion.

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Elites Predation and Insecurity: A Perspective on the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria

Crosdel O. Emuedo
Crosdel O. Emuedo Western Delta University
Dr. Henry Oghaotor
Dr. Henry Oghaotor
Dr. Michael Abam
Dr. Michael Abam

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