Lagos Historical Review

Book Review

Omon Merry Osiki — 2024-07-02

No Abstract

Ibn Khaldun: A Brief Discourse on His Historiography, Philosophy, Science and Racism in Muqaddimah

Dele Jemirade — 2024-07-02

Ibn Khaldun is recognized as one of the most influential philosophers of history. Although he wrote in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, his works have stood the test of time and remain relevant in the understanding of trends in historical development. The focus of this article is to briefly analyse the major ideas and contributions of Ibn Khaldun to the philosophy of history. As a mirror, this article specifically explores some aspects of Khaldun’s magnum opus: The Muqaddimah from historical and philosophical points of view. This is done here by examining Ibn Khaldun’s ideology, environment, subject matter, and the purpose of his writing The Muqaddimah. The article also interrogates aspects of Ibn Khaldun’s ideas such as race and ethnicity which have not received extensive attention from scholars. Using mainly content analysis, the work discusses the overall relevance of The Muqaddimah to contemporary historical studies. It concludes that the historiography and philosophy of Ibn Khaldun help to understand the factors and forces shaping historical development up to the present time.

Islamic Revivalism and the Struggle for Cultural Hegemony in Yorubaland

Dele Ashiru — 2024-07-02

The Yoruba are reputed for their rich and robust cultural heritage that has survived over the years. However, the Islamic incursion into Yorubaland led to a conflict of culture whereby the Islamic cultural and religious practices struggled to supplant the Yoruba way of life. Islamic revivalism refers to the avowed commitment by individuals or groups to re-new, recreate or return the practice of Islam to its pristine form even in their new abode. Revivalism is an attempt to redirect or change the way of life of a people in conformity to Islamic precepts, which are characterized by the desire for sharia based legal reforms, greater individual and collective piety as well as the increasing imposition of Islamic cultural values on the people. The objective of the paper is to examine the struggle for Islamic cultural hegemony in Yorubaland. In a historical and analytical manner, the paper examines the contact of Islam with Yorubaland and observes that the Islamic faith was voluntarily accepted and practised by Muslim faithful sometimes alongside their indigenous traditional beliefs. It argues that despite the attempt by the revivalists to enthrone an Islamic cultural hegemony in Yorubaland, the Yoruba culture has remained elastic and shown commendable resilience to Islamic infiltrations. While the paper recommends the virtue of religious tolerance and accommodation amongst religious adherents in the interest of harmonious coexistence in Yorubaland, it concludes that the Yoruba culture of accommodation, tolerance and perseverance should not be misinterpreted as an erosion or loss of its cultural hegemony in its domain.

Institutional and Governance Reform in a Hybrid Regime: Practising Decentralisation in Cameroon, 1990-2020

Godwill Kungso Ndzofoa Eno — 2024-07-02

This paper examines the practice of decentralisation in a hybrid regime,1 political and governance system. Going by the metaphor of “a lion giving birth to a cat”, this article provides an explanation on the realities in the practice of decentralisation and the workings of these reforms in a hybrid regime in Cameroon. The resilience of the centralised state agency in the implementation of the policy of decentralisation is properly explained by David Easton’s “systems theory”. 2 It describes Cameroon’s institutional and governance reality as a complex political entity, highly integrated and resilient to the reform of decentralisation, enshrined in the constitution of 18th January 1996. In its seventh year of practice, this study interrogates if decentralisation in Cameroon is not more of an administrative deconcentration with no fundamental outcome, neither in the transfer of resources, decision making nor any real impact on local development. The paper made use of primary and secondary sources. From these sources, investigations reveal that the implementation and impact of the instruments and structures of decentralisation is handicapped by two factors; the fear for any real competition between them and those of the centralised model; to keep at bay and curb the desires for power from the forces of democratic and political change from reaching the nucleus of the hyper-centralised governance system. This paper concludes that the structures of decentralisation are chambers created to exist in the political power periphery and remained submitted to orders from the governing establishment of the centralised state system.

COVID-19, Global Order and Challenges of Multilateralism: Any Hope for Status Quo?

Joshua O. Bolarinwa — 2024-07-02

This paper examines COVID-19, the world order, and the difficulties with multilateralism, especially before and immediately after the outbreak of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and, in particular, the politics surrounding the vaccine and its control, have made the already precarious character of international governance institutions much more chaotic. As a result, the multilateral order that had been in place since the conclusion of World War II was shaken. The research illustrates how multilateralism has gradually given way to a unilateral attitude to global concerns, which has made it very difficult to coordinate cooperative efforts to defeat one of humanity's biggest adversaries of the twenty-first century. It comes to the conclusion that the multilateral system should be defended, protected, preserved, and supported in order to assure stability, progress, and development. Unilateralism is not combated by greater unilateralism, but rather by multilateralism.

COVID-19, Global Order and Challenges of Multilateralism: Any Hope for Status Quo?

Joshua O. Bolarinwa — 2024-07-02

Andoni–Ibani Economic Relations in the Eastern Niger Delta, 1800-2000

Romokere Mgbowaji Benson — 2024-07-02

This paper is a historical examination of the economic relationship between the Andoni and Ibani ethnic groups in the Eastern Niger Delta from 1800 to 2000. Indeed, Andoni and the Ibani of Bonny had huge economic relationship before their settlement on the Eastern Niger Delta. The foundation of their economic relationship began around the Imo River when the Ibani were resident among the Ndoki who traded with Andoni in agricultural goods. The Andoni’s trade by barter with Ndoki prompted the Ibani to explore more economic potentials in the territory of the Andoni. The Ibani economic exploration and exploitation eventually resulted in the establishment of Bonny as a distinct ethnic group in the region or area. Being accommodated by the Andoni and exposed to fishing occupation, their economic relation was consolidated. This relationship was further strengthened by the transAtlantic slave trade and legitimate trade. During the period of international commerce Andoni served as the trade route to Bonny and other ethnic groups while Bonny later became the slave and palm oil depot. This paper used the qualitative method, which relied on both primary and secondary sources to document the economic activities of the aforementioned groups, which enhanced and sustained their relationship. The finding of the paper is that the economic relations of the Andoni and Ibani (Bonny) guaranteed peaceful commercial transactions in both their local and international economic activities after several crises and wars in the area. It concludes that economic relations between the two ethnic groups were a precursor to the economic development and sustenance of the Eastern Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and National Security in Nigeria

Godwin S. Ichimi — 2024-07-02

This paper is predicated on the premise that globally there exist the requisite military capacity and economic resources to effectively and decisively prosecute the global war on terror. International terrorist groups, however, can only be brought to their knees through concerted international collaborations based on levels of global commitment and action that are much higher than what presently obtains. The paper, therefore, identifies and discusses several counter-terrorism initiatives at national, regional and international levels and the prospects surrounding them. It argues that to achieve optimum impactful outcomes for counter-terrorism cooperation initiatives, the first line of action must be an affirmative action toward obliterating the social-economic and political conditions and circumstances that facilitate the emergence and growth of terrorists and terrorism. Economic and political deprivations, marginalisation and oppression are the crucibles in which terrorists are incubated and nurtured. There is, therefore, the urgent imperative for a critical review and rededication to the global development agenda, with the world’s leading financial, trade, investment and technological institutions as well reappraising their modus operandi. A new international economic and financial order is called for, to mitigate the current tendency of the forces of globalisation leaving behind the bulk of humanity who, almost invariably, end up as easy catches for terrorist organisations. To deprive terrorist groups of access to this almost unlimited stock of potential recruits, the conditions of global poverty and misery, illiteracy and disease and the lack of access to education and other critical economic empowerment and support infrastructure must be addressed.

A Historical Analysis of the Liberian Civil Service Reforms in the Post-Civil War Era, 2008-2011

Ndidi Natalie Onuoha — 2024-07-02

Generally, civil service reforms are deliberate attempts to improve the quality of service and efficiency of different government ministeries and agencies. This paper analyses the Liberian Civil Service reforms that took place between 2008 and 2011. These reforms occurred in the post-Civil War era. The paper also examines the measures that shaped the Civil Service Commission and it’s restructuring. It argues that despite the reforms, the Liberian Civil Service needed a well-coordinated policy as a machinery of government that had major development objectives to ensure service delivery. The essence of these reforms was to restore the Liberian Civil Service to its original state of effective service delivery. This study adopts the historical research methodology that allows the use of both primary and secondary sources of information. The evidence from both sources was subjected to the twin elements of interpretation and analysis to give a deeper insight into the Liberian Civil Service reforms that helped to reshape, restructure, and refocus the Liberian Civil Service for efficient and effective service delivery.

Circumvention of Term Limits in Africa and Nigeria’s Foreign Policy since 2015

Kelechi Njoku Igwe — 2024-07-02

The growing pattern of circumvention of term limits in Africa carries farreaching consequences for the continent’s governance, security, and development. Africa has seen a reversal in term limit norms since 2015. Since that time, leaders of 13 African countries have evaded or overseen the further weakening of term limit restrictions put in place in their countries. Despite these setbacks, the trend is not uni- directional. Several African countries have strengthened or upheld term limits since 2015. There is a notable regional variation in the upholding of term limits. The lack of effective term limits has resulted in Africa having 10 leaders who governed for over 20 years and 2 family dynasties that stayed in power for more than 50 years. This erosion of term limits is a setback for stable governance in Africa, leading to the emergence of coups, rebels and extremist groups. This continental problem demands decisive multilateral solutions. These issues have led to geopolitical security tensions resulting to Africa’s 32 million refugees and internally displaced populations. This paper interrogates Nigeria’s diplomatic roles as Africa’s biggest democracy in addressing issues of circumvention of term limits that weakens governance in Africa under the Buhari-led administration, and how Nigeria provided leadership to address coups in Africa. The study adopts the historical research methodology. This method allows the use of primary and secondary sources, applying the twin of interpretation and analysis. It is recommended that Nigeria must rise to the occasion as a dominant power through the effective implementation of her Afrocentric foreign policy at regional and sub-regional levels.

The Triggers of Sudan’s Crisis and Lessons for Nigeria

Murtala Muhammad — 2024-07-02

A bloody war broke out again in Sudan in 2023. Indeed, Sudan is once again in the spotlight, but for the wrong reasons. The 2023 conflict was the result of the rivalry between two Sudanese Generals at the helm of affairs. The triggers to the conflict provide Nigeria, the giant of Africa, with lessons. These lessons are apparent in both Sudan and Nigeria. These include overbearing divisions and agitations, festering violence, deepening socioeconomic crisis and external meddlesomeness. This paper discusses Sudan’s and Nigeria’s unending crises in their post-colonial history and the triggers causing recent upheavals in former and the attendant consequences for the latter. Sudan, like Nigeria experienced challenges triggered by mounting imbalances in foreign trade, debt crisis, IMFinspired devaluation, austerity measures, and elite struggle for power. The combination and intensity of these upheavals define the recurrent conditions and deepening crisis in Sudan which needs to serve as a lesson for Nigeria to avoid falling into catastrophe. The paper raises pointers of crises in Africa and other developing states drawing on the experiences of Sudan and Nigeria. The study utilises the qualitative method with emphasis on secondary sources of data. It recommends that Nigeria should adopt certain strategies to escape from the crises that bedevilled Sudan during the period under investigation.

Editorial

David Aworawo — 2024-07-02

No Abstract