Security Misperceived in Nigeria

Abstract

Human beings are generally self-centred, always seeking to maximise own interests more than showing liberal or benevolent disposition toward others. The desire to satisfy self is naturally more in human than the contrary; yet, many seek to usurp the rights of others for personal or corporate reasons, especially if there are no stiff restrictions (Stirk and Weigall, 1995; Appadorai, 2004). The natural disposition to usurp the rights of other members of the society is exacerbated by incompatibility of interests as well as unequal endowment of natural cum social resources in the members of the society. Such resources include among others, physique, intelligence, sex, status, race, wealth, power, knowledge, opportunities, and several others. Since members of the society are not equally endowed with most of these necessary human attributes, those who have or have more of them tend to abuse the exhibition of these natural endowments. More often than not, the rights of others who have less or are not equally endowed are never acknowledged or respected; rather they are suppressed by those who are in privileged position. In a totalitarian society for instance, the impact of the abuses are better imagined than experienced as the few privileged individuals and groups tend to be despotic and coercive. Even in rationally or democratically organised societies, where clearly written rules guiding relationship as well as implementing agencies exist to perform clearly defined roles, the same virtues are often used to circumvent approved standards of interpersonal relationship.