Power and Protest in a Rural Marketplace: Perspective on Local Governance and Conflict Management in Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

This paper examines the nature and character of rural markets and conflict management by local authorities in northern Nigeria. The central thesis of this paper is that although rural market communities in northern Nigeria are challenged by unequal power relations, their choices are not limited by their powerlessness in negotiating with local authorities. Two conclusions are drawn from paper: First, is that market protest in Sokoto State exposed the limit of predatory use of power by local authorities as demonstrated by peasant capacity to defy coercive mobilization to ventilate accumulated grievances through boycott of official markets and the creation of rebellious ones. Secondly, market protest in Sokoto State has underscored the economic importance of market in rural Nigeria being the only means of converting the fruits of agricultural labor into economic value. The desire of local traders to express resentments against over taxation transformed marketplace from trading avenue to arena of contestation, struggle and resistance.

Keywords: Power, Protest, Markets, Conflict, Local Governance, Rebellion