Conflict Management Strategies and Performance

Conflict Management Strategies and Performance in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State

Chapter One

Introduction

1.0 Background of the study  

Understanding the right strategies Abi local government area of Cross River State will apply to manage intra and interstate conflict is very essential to its administrative responsibilities because this is one sector any administration in the area will want to put more interest by deploying all available resources, in other to improve his performance towards socio-economic development. Applying the right strategies in conflict management is important because of the numerous challenges it brings to the growth and development of any society or organization (Olakunle, 2008).

According to Olakunle, (2008), with a basic understanding of the conflict management strategies, small organizations and societies can better deal with conflicts before they escalate beyond repair. Estes & Wang,  (2008) further identified the following; accommodating, avoidance, Collaborating, compromising, and competing methods as the best strategies in managing conflicts in any organization or society. Management of conflict is very essential for development to prevail in an organization, but considerations on the high costs of managing conflict and the consequences it may bring to any organization or society cannot be pre-determined, hence the need for adopting the above-mentioned strategies becomes very imperative (Bartlett, 2010).

According to the Cross River State report on conflict resolution in 2010, different categories of conflicts have been recorded in several communities of Abi local government area with their neighboring communities both within the state and neighboring Ebonyi and Abia state respectively. Some of these conflicts include; the conflict between the Igbo Imabana and Assign community in Neighboring Yakurr L.G.A, the conflict between Anong and Ekori community in neighboring Yakurr local government Area, and other interstate cases of conflicts too numerous to mention. Other cases of conflicts that have been identified as interstate conflicts in the Abi local government area of Cross River State which seem to be the most recent conflict are the conflict between the Adadama community and Amagu communities in the Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi.  Eyewitnesses said the crisis arose from a renewed land dispute between Adadama and Amagu communities.

The study on conflict management strategies and performance in the Abi Local government area of Cross River state indicates that how conflict is managed in the social impacts the process and outcomes of conflict, both for individuals and organizations. Poorly managed organizational conflicts affect the level and frequency of future conflicts and hurt learning, productivity, and job performance (Meyer, 2004).

1.1 Statement of the Problem

Applying the right strategies is a challenge towards effective Conflict management in most societies and this trend hurts the society or organization not being enabled to achieve its set objectives in terms of socio-economic development, due to poor management of conflict thereby resulting to prolong the stay of conflicts and also generating of more conflict. So many societies have broken down for their failure to adopt effective conflict management strategies, the entire globe is seriously threatened with different categories of conflicts which have been seen to be poorly managed due to their failure to adopt effective conflict management strategies (Paul & Dean, 2002).  Africa, in particular, is facing very serious times in terms of different degrees of unresolved conflicts for one reason or the other, hence the need for the adoption of effective conflict management strategies becomes a challenge to every society or organization if they must improve in performance.

The problem of differences in opinion is however prevalent in every society and this becomes an impeding factor towards adopting effective conflict management strategies which results in stagnating developmental activities in most societies.

1.2 Objectives of the study

The main objective of this study is, to analyze the strategies of conflict management and performance as relates to the Abi local government area of Cross River State. Other specific objectives include:

(i) To identify the possible causes of conflict in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River state.

(ii) To determine the nature of conflicts in the Abi local government Area and its attendant effects on the socio-economic development of the area.

(iii) To determine the possible strategies of managing conflict in the Abi Local Government Area of  Cross River  state

(iv) To identify the impact, the various strategies conflict management will have on the performance of Abi Local Government Area.

1.3 Research Questions

The following research questions were asked to guide  the study

(i) What are the possible causes of conflict in the Abi Local Government Area of Cross River state?

(ii) What are the possible strategies of managing conflict in Abi Local Government Area of  Cross River state in other to improve performance.?

(iii) What is the nature of conflicts in the Abi local government Area and its attendant effects on the socio-economic development of the area?

(iv) What are the impacts of conflict management strategies on performance in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River state?

1.4 Research Hypothesis

In other to achieve the objectives of this study, the following hypothesis was formulated;

1.   There is no significant relationship between effective conflict management strategies and the performance of the Abi local government area.

2.  There is no significant relationship between conflict management strategies and socio-economic development in Abi local government Area.

3.  There is no significant relationship between effective conflict management strategies and causes of conflict in the Abi Local Government Area.

1.5 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of the study focuses on the impact of conflict management strategies on the performance of the Abi local government Area. This local government area is chosen because of ease of accessibility and also being a local government area with diverse goals. The limitation of the study is due to insufficient financial resources, time, and materials that have hindered the researcher from traveling to every part of the Abi Local Government Area in other to source vital information from Areas that have experienced one form of conflict or the other.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study will be of value to organizations both public and private for them to identify some salient causes of conflicts and to be able to manage the situation judiciously using some of the conflict management strategies mentioned above. The study will also arouse both states and federal government interest to see the need in providing adequate resources to local government areas and also speed up the process of local government autonomy to minimize the rate of conflicts in this third tier of government that is directly responsive to the grass root. The study will also provide a platform for the management of organizations to direct resources appropriately to minimize conflicts situations in the workplace. The study is also expected to be of great value to academicians and practitioners in the field of conflict management, public relations, and public administration. The study can also be useful to researchers for further studies.

1.7 Historical Background Of The Study Area: Abi Local Government Area

Abi local government area was first created in 1983 during the Shagari’s administration and was later abolished due to the overthrow of that administration in a coup de tat in December 1983. The present Abi local government area was recreated out of the defunct Ugep local government area in 1991 by the General Ibrahim Babangida  Administration.

People from Abi include Come from mainly Ethnicities such as the Agbosubgroup of Igboland and the Bahumono (thisdayonline,2004).

One of the largest tribes within Abi Local Government is Bahumono, which includes seven villages namely: Ediba, Anong, Usumutong, Afafanyi, Igonigoni, Ebom, and Ebiriba. There are linguistic differences among the Bahumono people with the major variant being the Ohumono language. They are all historically known to have migrated from a place within the hills of Ruhura (ekpon a ruhura) called Hotumusa (old town) which lies in a region between the present-day Ediba and Usumutong villages. The Ediba people at Hotumusa had hunters who found a riverine location where Ediba situates presently. The hunters related the news to her people and Ogbudene led the people in a siege against the locals of the river-dwelling and drove them across the river. Four of the Five of the Ediba families namely: Henugwehuma, Henusokwe, Enihom, and Henuowom quickly left and colonized the river area. The Ezono clan made up of Bazorang, Batonene, and Fonahini, the last family, decided to stay back at Hotumusa, where they had always been the head landowners and leading family among the other five. This small clan has had its dynastic legacy, festivals, deities, and new yam celebrations to this day.

Lying midway on the Cross River, Abi local government area stretches between longitude 8.00 to 8.100 E and latitude 5.000 to 6.300 N. It is bounded on the north and west by Abia and Ebonyi states respectively and on the east and south by Yakurr and Biase Local Government Areas. It has an estimated population of about 112,941 people And a landmass of approximately 334.5316sqkm, the occupation of the people is predominantly farming activities such as livestock, fishing, and cash crops.

1.8 Definition of terms

Strategy:- is a high-level method put in place to achieve one or more goals under conditions of uncertainty. (Henry,2010)

Conflict:- is a struggle or contest between people with opposing needs, ideas, values, or goals (Algert & Watson, 2006).

Performance:- is the accomplishment of a given task measured against preset known standards of accuracy in other to satisfy expectations. performance is deemed to be the fulfillment of an obligation, in a manner that releases the performer from all liabilities (Rivers,2005).

Management:-is the act of dealing with situations successfully. That is, bringing situations like conflict under control. (Ngu, 2008)