Ozioma Onyenweaku
Every conflict is a result of clash of interests; whether selfish or selfless; whatever the motivation. Conflict is normal phenomenon in human relations. Whatever form the conflicts take, the underlying factor is clash of interests.
Conflict has been defined as an active disagreement with opposing opinions or principle. A. W. Green defined conflict as “deliberate attempt to oppose, resist or coerce the will of another or others”. Gillin defined conflict as “… the social process in which individuals or groups seek their ends by directly challenging the antagonist by violence or threat of violence”.
Given the wide spread of violence that trail recent conflicts in Nigeria, I would have agreed with this definition of Gillins as being the true expression of conflicts. Thinking about the incessant violent conflicts in Nigeria, I came across ‘Satyagraha’; I also got clearer view of civil disobedience. Then I came out fine that conflict must not always be violent.
Civil disobedience and Satyagraha have been used effectively in the past in conflicts without adhering to violence.
Civil disobedience which is also known as passive resistance is the refusal to obey the demands or commands of a particular government or power as a way of showing grievance without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition. The aim of civil disobedience is to get concessions from the government or power. Civil disobedience has majorly been applied as a tactic and philosophy by majority of nationalist movements in Africa and india, in the American civil rights movement, and other social movements in many countries in the past.
Satyagraha is a concept or rather philosophy that was introduced by the then leader of India, Mahatma Gandhi in the early 20th Century. Its ideology was to designate a determined but non-violent resistance to any perceived injustice, oppression and evil. Gandhi and his people used satyagraha as a major tool in Indian struggle against British imperialism. Some other countries have since adopted Satyagraha.
Practitioners of satyagraha known as satyagrahis, ,adopt Satyagraha as a philosophy that seeks to achieve correct insight into the real nature of an unpleasant and oppressive situation by observing a non-violence of mind, by seeking truth in a spirit of peace and love, and by undergoing a rigorous process of self-scrutiny. That way, the satyagrahi encounters truth in the absolute.
The Satyagraha is intentional in avoiding to bow to the wrong or to align with the wrong in any way. All through confrontation with the unacceptable situation, the satyagrahi adhers strictly to non-violence, because the Satyagrahis believe that to employ violence would be to lose correct insight.
The Satyagrahis always warn their opponents of their intentions; satyagraha includes more than civil disobedience. Satygraha seeks to conquer through conversion thereby creating a new harmonious order wherein there is neither defeat nor victory.
It is natural to feel agitated when under oppression or clearly perceived injustice. It is equally natural and lawful to protest any perceived injustice or oppression. So legal it is to want to create a harmonious all inclusive order where everyone is carried along and no one is left out. These are natural desires, but they must not be satisfied through violence. Violence begets more violence and places one at the same low level of the oppressor.
We must avoid violent conflicts at all cost. Take a look at Nigeria, for example. Why are there so many displaced persons, and insecurity in Nigeria? Why is the south east of Nigeria boiling? Agitations not properly handled, and agitations ignored and neglected.
We must spare a thought for our citizens more particularly the women and children who are the worst hit by violent conflicts. This in no way suggests that only women and children feel the impact of violent conflict.
Human Rights Watch document showed the abuses going on in IDP camps as being grossly against women. The sexual abuse include rape and exploitation of many women and girls living in IDP camps. Result of violet conflict, you see.
A situational assessment of IDPs in the Northeast carried out by NOI Polls, a Nigerian research organization, in July 2016, reported that 66% of 400 displaced people in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states said that camp officials sexually abuse the displaced women and girls. So sad. Avoidable situation, I dare say.
We must be intentional in getting things done right in our society. Agitations must never be ignored. They must be looked into at all times. Agitations must not be met with violent response. Violent attack on agitations turns a society into a jungle; and that is not in the interest of anyone. Civil disobedience must be recognized as an internationally acceptable mode of agitation. May we also embrace Satyagraha.
