Bridging the peace gap in Nigeria : the panel of the wise as a constitutional essential

Abstract

Since the return to democratic governance in 1999, violent conflicts around identities including religion, ethnicity, indigene/settler differentiation and resource control remain a challenge to peace in Nigeria. Thus far, responses of government lack a normative framework to motivate consistent intervention and foster peace. While the 1999 Constitution identifies peace as a common aspiration, there is a deficit of a non-adversarial institutional mechanism to address violent identity related conflicts in Nigeria. Despite its limited relevance, the visible institution for conflict management is the court. This article argues the need for the establishment of a panel of the wise, a conflict and peace intervention mechanism, as an “essential” for Nigerian constitution. It then explores key considerations in terms of the composition, functions and legal status of intervention of the proposed panel for the management of violent conflicts associated with identity and fostering peace in Nigeria.