THE BASSA TRADITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA: A NEGLECTED ASPECT OF NATIONAL SECURITY

The rhythms and rhymes of insecurity have become worrisome to the Nigerian society. The endemic nature of it has produced huge negative intra-and inter-ethnic cum inter-religious consequences among the diverse cultural groups in Nigeria; leading to the emergence of fissures and consequently; communal conflicts between and among ethnic and religious groups. This is a stark evidence for the neglect of the age-long cherished values of pre-colonial societies. In the quest for political space, materialistic ethos was replaced with all-long time values. The political elites, most often than not, harped on inter-ethnic sentiments and differences in order to achieve their subterranean and inordinate motives. This paper, using oral and written sources, shows how valid the old administrative system, values and norms could be used to tackle security challenges in Nigeria. It argues that if the old values are recognised and used, some aspects of security challenges in Nigeria would be brought to its barest minimum and the tones of violence changed for the better. The paper used the Bassa pre-colonial administrative system as a case study; which if utilise with moderation and modernisation, certain aspects of Nigerian National security challenges will be checkmated.