Using Hooke‟s law of elasticity to explicate trends and dimensions of crisis in the Niger Delta

Abstract

The study draws from a corollary in the physical sciences, showing how a quantitative form could
change to a qualitative form (that is water under 100°C). Likewise, the constant bombardment of the
Niger Delta social formation could alter its relations of production. To this end, the study goes beyond,
(i) the era of early oil exploration/expansion years and community passivity (1903-1970), (ii) Era of oilindustry “consolidation”, incipient agitations and of oil companies, (iii) Era of state command
intervention and community reactive militancy to (iv) „fracture‟. However, elastic materials, either
stretched, compressed, or bent comes back to its original shape and size when the force is removed.
We posit that the “proportionality limit” is exceeded in the Niger Delta and the region can never be the
same using this theoretical exposition. This supports our thesis that “mindful humans under certain
conditions would tend to behave like mindless atoms”. The study recommends a Cognitive Personal
Development Scheme (CPDS) for development of innate skills and adaptive mechanism for youths of
the area as panacea to youth restiveness