| 1 |
Author(s):
Adeleke Olumide Ogunnoiki.
Page No : 1-9
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International Law and Xenophobia in South Africa
Abstract
For centuries, international law has regulated the actions and international relations of sovereign states. Though, some of these states in the international system have proven themselves to be compliant with international law in certain aspects of their complex relations, they have performed unsatisfactorily in others. The sporadic outburst of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in the Republic of South Africa remains an instance of a state’s failure to fulfil its obligation as articulated in the international conventions it acceded to. Since the post-apartheid era began in 1994, there has been an influx of migrants into South Africa. Sadly, these migrants, mostly Black Africans, have been discriminated against and occasionally attacked by resentful locals. The objective of the paper is to briefly point out South Africa’s obligation as a state party to several treaties that guard against racial discrimination and, the failure of successive South African governments to fulfil it. The historical approach was adopted for the paper and, the qualitative method of secondary data collection. The paper concluded that henceforth, South Africa as a civilised state in the international community, should perform in good faith its obligation of safeguarding the fundamental human rights of immigrants within its territorial jurisdiction.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Buhari Lateef Oluwafemi (Ph.D).
Page No : 10-24
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The Collaborative Roles of the Nigerian Army and The Police Force During the Nigeria Civil War
Abstract
This study examines the joint efforts of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force during the Nigerian civil war between July 6 1967 and January 1970. It depicts the evolvement of the Nigerian armed forces that was organized along environmental and functional lines for the defense of territorial integrity and protecting national interest. so also, the Nigerian police force is a security system of the Nigerian nation established to combat crimes at all level as well as to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizenry. It traces the emergence of the Nigerian Army and Police from June 1861under the British Consul, John Beecroft. This paper note that the police sometimes handled simple and sometimes complicated criminal and civil cases between civilian returnees and soldiers and also between civilians versus civilians. This duty was by no means simple as the police was trying to enforce the civil rule of law without a machinery to carry it out. On humanitarian grounds, the police assisted in attending to the sick and treating the wounded. After the Gowon administration’s effort to resolve the conflict amicably had failed, Gowon decided to institute a “police action to break the secession. The first exchange of fire between both sides was actually between a unit of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force and an Armed Biafra Unit somewhere in Idoma Division. the police were drawn into adopting the military psyche, rash and hasty in responding to civil strife Despite their flaws and weaknesses, accounts of the Nigeria police participation in the civil war depicts that the force immensely assisted in intelligence gathering and actual armed combat. The research relied on both primary and secondary sources of data with a thorough usage of analytical and descriptive methods of analyses. The paper conclude that both the Army and Police were rarely neutral, typically imbalanced in an ethnic conflict. The ethnic composition of the police may or may not try to be like that of the military; when they are essentially the same.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Deinibiteim Monimah Harry.
Page No : 25-33
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Restructuring the Nigerian State: Issues, Challenges and Prospects
Abstract
The restructuring debate is an ongoing one in the country, especially in the past ten years. Available evidence shows that restructuring is an ideology which time is overdue in Nigeria today. This paper is a discourse on the argument for and against restructuring in Nigeria and the desirability of the process as well as the likely benefits that would be derived when the country is properly restructured. The main objective of this paper is to show that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely when it is properly and honestly restructured. The work reveals the concept restructuring had been variously construed to meaning true federalism, fiscal federalism, devolution of power and resource control. Also, restructuring have the ability to bring about massive national development through constitutional amendment, reduction in power contestation and extravagancy of public office holders, provision of security at the different levels of governance, etc. Thus, the paper recommends that relevant institutions of the state, particularly the executive and legislative arms, should put plans in motion to effect restructuring, political elites from across the nation should bury their ethnic and regional interests and pursue restructuring for the overall good of the country and that citizens should take their destiny in their hands and fight for restructuring to achieve national development.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Tatenda Leopold Chakanyuka.
Page No : 34-48
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United Nations Security Council Reform: A Revisit of the African Position
Abstract
The Security Council of today is no longer representative of today's world politics, geography, population and even interest wise. Despite it being the world’s most powerful organ, the developing nations that account for more than half of the world population are not adequately represented. This non-proportional representation of the non-P-5 member states in the Security Council gives them less ownership “in the maintenance of peace and international security”. As a result, the African countries have argued that the UNSC is “undemocratic” in its functions and fails to capture the interests of the small countries who do not have the same rights and privileges as the P-5. In 2005, African countries came up with an ‘African common position’ on UNSC security council reform through what is known as the Ezulwini Consensus demanding two permanent seats with the same privileges as the permanent members and other five non-permanent rotational seats in the Security Council. The AU position has been viewed by many countries including some of the P-5 and some from the region as unrealistic and unachievable. The slow pace in the reform agenda has to some extent been blamed on the uncompromising position of the AU. Having examined the provisions of the Charter on amendments and the level of global support towards the African position, the author concluded that, AU must remodel its position and negotiate with the others with a view of reaching an acceptable and achievable position.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Dr. Temitope Francis Abiodun, Adedokun Olaniyi Oloyede, Owoyemi Emmanuel Ademola, Ogechi Abah, Opeyemi Segun Kehinde.
Page No : 49-64
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Unlawful Killings of Civilians by Officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Unit of the Nigerian Police in Southwest Nigeria: Implications for National Security
Abstract
The spate of violent and unlawful killings by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Unit of Nigerian Police in South West region of the country has not only queried the efficiency required by the police in discharging their responsibilities but has also greatly undermined human security. Consequently, the lawless situation in the state has engendered acrimonious relationship among the citizenry which has further heightened the security dilemma in all ramifications. It is keenly observed that most of the killings are rampant in Lagos, Osun, Oyo, and Ogun States in the region which have recently generated a lot of social media and physical protests by the populace but despite this, the menace still persists. Lives of several young and adult Nigerians; students, football players, private and commercial drivers and other innocent ones have been cut short in the name of searching for the ‘Yahoo boys’ and bribe-takings. The study examines the instances, trends of violent and unlawful killing of civilians in the country by officers of Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Nigeria Police; and the factors triggering the brutality; and also interrogates the threats posed by the criminal acts to the peace and security in Southwest Nigeria and national security. The study in its findings indicates that the violent/unlawful killing occurs as a result of unprofessionalism, lack of funds/resources, uncontrolled anger/emotions, corruption, unprofessionalism, use of illicit drugs, drinking of alcohol while on duty among others on the part of officers of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and as well absence of Police reforms in Nigeria. Social contract and failed state theories are employed for the study. The study, however, concludes that, the Nigerian government should brace up in ensuring adequate security of lives and property for her citizenry, the need for urgent Nigeria Police reforms in the country, adoption of merit in recruitment process into the Force, fighting corruption to the core among others in checkmating the menace.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, Farouk Ibrahim Bibi-Farouk , Sofolabo Dare.
Page No : 65-74
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The Obama’s Red Line and Subsequent U.S. Missiles Attack on Syrian Military Bases: Impact on World Politics
Abstract
The paper examines the Obama’s red-line on Syria and analyses the American attacks on Syrian military bases. Using the library research from secondary historical-descriptive approach, findings show that, the missile attacks were carried out to compliment Obama’s failure to attack Syria after the use of chemical weapon by the regime of Bashir Al-assad. The paper concludes that the Obama Red line has portrayed the inherent feature of the democrats as they oppose wars and see it as a last resort. The red line was issued as a warning, a caveat and to threaten the Syrian government not to ever apply chemical weapon on its citizens, not because Obama wanted to deploy men in boot on Syrian soil. It was also responsive as Assad under the guide of Russia agreed for the destruction of the Syrian chemical stockpiles, which eased the tension between the United States and Syria. The paper recommends among other things that, the United States should not with any state continue to support terrorist groups such as Alqaeda in fighting anywhere in the world. The world must also put a stop to Saudi-Arabia’s funding of such extremist groups within the Middle East and other regions around the world and states should not be allowed to be making use of weapons of mass destruction, as it goes contrary to the international law.
