In preparation for the 2003 elections, Academic Associates PeaceWorks
conducted two workshops for the Nigeria Police on “Early
Warning Signs of Election Conflict”. 300 top
police officers and men attended each workshop.
The Lagos workshop held at the Airport Hotel,
Ikeja
The
first one, held in Lagos on April 4-5 for the southern states,
was opened by the Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
The
Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun with the
Executive Director of Academic Associates PeaceWorks,
Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni, during the opening of the
Lagos Workshop for the Nigeria Police April 4, 2003
The
second workshop for the northern states, held in Abuja April 7-8,
was opened by Commissioner of Police FedOps, Lawrence Alobi.
The Commissioner of Police FedOps, Lawrence Alobi with
Dr. Asuni at the opening of the Abuja Workshop,
held at Merit House April 7, 2003
In
addition to general conflict management skills, much time was
spent on detecting and responding to early warning signs of conflict,
using specific cases of communal conflict in Nigeria. Based on
AAPW’s extensive practical experience in conflict intervention,
the following case studies were handled by workshop facilitators:
- Kaduna:
November 2002 - Pastor James Movel Wuye & Imam Mohammed N.Ashafa
- Muslim/Christian Dialogue Centre, Kaduna
- Plateau
State:
Dr. Shedrack Best & Mr. Danjuma Sa’idu - University
of Jos
- Rivers
State:
Mr. Blessing Abam - AAPW, Port Harcourt
- Warri:
Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni - AAPW, Abuja
In
addition, Mr. Blessing Abam, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police,
dealt extensively with the Public Order Act and the Electoral Law.
A cross-section of participants in group work
facilitated by Mr. Danjuma Sa’idu
More participants in lectures on Early Warning
Signs of Election Conflict
Participants
developed strategies for applying the Public Order Act and responding
to early warning signs of election conflict. These were later discussed
with the Inspector General of Police.
Opening of the Lagos workshop, with top police
officers on the high table
Participants from groups facilitated by
Imam Ashafa and Pastor James
(center in white and brown respectively)
Generally
the 2003 elections in Nigeria were peaceful, due in large part to
the preparation by the Police. An article in the Sunday Punch of
June 29, 2003 says “If there was anytime the police in
Nigeria ever got unanimous accolades from a cross section of Nigerians,
it was during the recently concluded elections. The encomiums came
from all quarters. Though there were pockets of civil unrest, people
believed they were not enough to taint that record….Despite
persistent threat by some politicians and disgruntled elements in
the country, coupled with various prophesies of doom, the police
performed creditably well. It was a surprise to most Nigerians.”
We congratulate the Nigeria Police on their good performance. A
specific example of police/civil society cooperation is described
under Election
Monitoring on the AAPW website.
Time out for Rosemarie McBean, AAPW Project Officer,
ED Judith Asuni, and Mr. Blessing Abam from
the AAPW Port Harcourt office
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