Raising the Bar of Scholarship from the Left: A Review of ‘ Boko Haram in Nigeria’ by Kola Ibrahim Book Title: Boko Haram in Nigeria: Historical and Political-Economic Exploration Author: Kola Ibrahim Year: 2015 Pages: 115 Book Reviewer: Lawal Rafiu Adeniran (M.A Peace and Conflict Studies) As a testament to Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilisation theory, which is also manifesting in what Mary Kaldor describes as ‘new wars’, a new dimension of conflicts has established itself in International politics. These conflicts now come in form of armed insurgency, violent secessionist, ethno-religious conflicts etc. Africa, no doubt occupies an important seat in the theatre of war. In Nigeria, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’ Awati Wal-Jihad popularly called Boko Haram has been responsible for the death of over 14,000 people (both combatants and civilians), displacement of over 1.5 million persons, destruction and loot of properties w
Revolt in Burkina Faso and the Challenge of Working People’s Alternative
After what seems like atrophy in mass movements in Africa, aftermath of counterrevolutionary rise in countries of the Middle East and North Africa, the working people and youth of Burkina Faso have brought the issue of mass movement and revolution back to the political agenda. The attempt of corrupt and politically bankrupt Blaise Compaore to grant himself extra term(s) in addition to his 27-year old rule could now only bring the mass discontent already bottled up, to the fore. The working people, youth and the poor could not stomach a day extension for a government that would only assure more poverty and misery for the majority. Against all odds, and throwing their fears to the sea, the mass of working people and youth stormed onto the streets, and in a sign of clear revolutionary instincts, stormed the centres of power – the parliamentary building, the seat of government, Place de la Nation, state broadcast
Crisis in Ajayi Crowther University and the Question of Private Education The recent newspaper report of the crisis in Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, has again brought to the fore the role of privately owned educational institutions as a way out of the crises in the public education sector. According to reports, the students of the institution had embarked on a violent protest to vent their anger, against the mismanagement of health condition of a fellow student by the university administration leading to his demise. The victim student had gone to the institution’s health centre to complain of health problems, but his situation grew worse that his breathing had to be supported with artificial oxygen. Rather than put on the electricity generating set to attend to the student, the health centre management preferred to preserve the generating set for the vice chancellor. Worse still, attempt by the deceased colleagues to facilitate his transfer to better hospital in town was frust
Comments
Post a Comment