Abstract
The springboard of conflicts in most multiethnic African societies have been alluded to the media and ethnic group leaders, however much attention has not been directed at these helixes. More so that there is a new strong concern about the increasing cases of ethnic conflicts being stimulated by dramatic surge in intolerant expressions, the hardening of ethno-political positions and the proliferation of ethnic militias that have unleashed varying degrees of violence and terror on the polity while the government interventions appeared ineffective. This motivates the main objective of this study which goes beyond understanding the immediate motives for ethnic conflicts in Nigeria but to discover the mainsprings of ethnic conflict behaviour in relation to the roles of newspaper framing and ethnic groups’ attitudes alongside a long lasting solutions. Therefore, series of accusations against the Nigeria newspapers by the ethnic group leaders lead us to understand that the media are indeed insensitive on the issues of ethnic conflict. Also, that from bias framing of ethnic issues, newspapers have enormous power in setting ethnic differences which shape conflict behaviour. Another salient but veiled influences emanating from the findings are the ethnic consciousness and intolerance that have continued to impede the relationship among ethnic groups as well as progress of Nigeria. Due to high level intolerance for each other, every action and inaction is given ethnic coloration as a result conflict ensue. Meanwhile, both government and media self-regulation should be strengthened to curb the excesses that stimulate ethnic conflicts. Hence, how the newspaper presents news of ethnic issues should be a direction for future research. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s1p496
Highlights
Ethnic conflict has been at the core of Nigeria development problems (Bienen, 2013; Irobi, 2005), the inability to prevent and stop prevalent ethnic conflicts in several regions of the country has given rise to strong concern and at the same time stimulating new interest in ethnic conflicts research (Onwusuruibgo, 2010)
What is surprising is the relative paucity of studies on the roles that ethnic group leaders in conjunction with the role that framing in newspaper play as the helix of these conflicts
Resulting from the interviews was the generation of coding frames which consisted of conceptualizing elements that explained the perspectives and lived experiences of the ethnic group leaders on ethnic conflicts in Nigeria
Summary
Ethnic conflict has been at the core of Nigeria development problems (Bienen, 2013; Irobi, 2005), the inability to prevent and stop prevalent ethnic conflicts in several regions of the country has given rise to strong concern and at the same time stimulating new interest in ethnic conflicts research (Onwusuruibgo, 2010). What is surprising is the relative paucity of studies on the roles that ethnic group leaders in conjunction with the role that framing in newspaper play as the helix of these conflicts In view of this some of the critical gaps which this study addresses, are what Hutchison (2013) describes as inadequate research attention that is devoted to ascertaining factors responsible for changes in individual attitudes and behavior that eventually lead to conflict. Similar insolences and consequences were experienced in Ethiopia, Bosnia from 1992 - 1995 and recently in Central African Republic and Darfur since 2003 and in Southern Sudan (even with secession in 2011) to the peril of all citizens and neighbouring countries It has been cases of old conflicts worsen, new ones surfacing (Arbour, 2014). This is why the main objective of this study goes beyond understanding the immediate motives for conflicts behaviours in Nigeria but to discover the mainsprings of ethnic conflict in relation to the roles of newspaper framing and ethnic groups alongside a long lasting solutions
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