AGITATORS AND NIGERIA GOVERNMENT - episode 1

- Shooting them is not the solution

- imprison them is not the answer

- fighting them is not the best method

John Dollard (1967), and other scholars after him, explained that violence comes when needs are not fulfilled. People may feel or desire to acquire something, but in the long run, their desires or needs are not actually realised, and this may lead to frustration and aggression. According to Ted Rob (1970), discrepancy, once it is on the increase, as regards seeking and realisation, there would be increase in the possibilities of anger and violence.

The explanation of this theory is that once one’s expectation is not met, one is frustrated to such an extent that one can unleash anger and violence on those who one considers responsible for one’s frustration. The Biafra agitators is distinct from others, because it requires those in the family, community, nation and international to have a listening ear to the demands or complaints of the agitators.

The main explanation on Biafra agitators is not just undertaken as a natural reaction or instinct as realists assume, but that is the outcome of frustration and that in a situation where the legitimate desires of an individual is denied either directly or by the indirect consequence of the way the society is structured, the feeling of disappointment may lead such a person or group to express his anger through violence that will be directed at those he holds responsible or people who are directly or indirectly related to them.

In situation where feelings of frustration become widespread among the population and the feeling is that people are getting less than they deserve, the most advisable thing that political leaders can do is to find out what the expectations of such individuals and groups are and to seek ways of negotiating with them. Most times, however, those in a position of authority believe that giving in to public demands or entering into negotiations is a sign of weakness. This is not the case and sometimes, the fact that an official of the state or community leader is showing some concern is enough to make people believe that something is being done.

The sister agitators of Biafra agitators which frustration leads to aggression can be seen in the ongoing crises in the Niger Delta area. After waiting and peacefully agitating for what the people of the region considered a fair share of the oil wealth that is exploited from their land, youths now take law into their own hands by vandalizing oil pipelines, kidnapping oil workers and generally creating problems for those they believe are responsible for their predicaments.

Man’s show of aggression or frustration occurs depending on the environmental condition or promptings. There could be attitudinal changes between an educated man and the uneducated. Man’s reaction to stress depends on uncertain conditions that may conform or depart from people’s expectation. In this case, aggression is not exhibited by instinct but by a concentration of other factors that are beyond the individual’s power to control.

Even though humans have the capability to be aggressive, this capability remains idle until stimulated by necessity or encouraged by success. It is noted that the expression of aggressive behaviour are a function of several factors including human nature and environment. As I pointed out, “we must not forget that in any real situation, behaviour will be the result of factors from all level”.

To understand how the human brain reacts when people are under stress and threat, it is possible for a person to experience conflict between what he is feeling and what he is thinking. This then determine whether such a person feels strongly about something or not and whether they act on such feelings or decide to ignore the feeling.

For this reason, when people are under stress, and under certain conditions, their reaction can conform or differ from what others expect. In essence, humans are naturally capable of being aggressive but do not display violent behaviour as an instinct. When violence occurs, there is the possibility that it is being manipulated by a combination of factors within and outside the individual’s control.