For their survival, humans have always depended upon natural resources that are scarce and unevenly distributed across the globe. The constantly increasing value of crude oil has provoked individuals, groups, nations, and governments to fight for ownership and control over it, leading to clashes of interests that often culminate in violent conflicts.A model of politics-value-interest-interactions and relationships was developed to analyze the conflicting political environment surrounding oil-dependency in Nigeria. Data were gathered from secondary sources and analyzed using the contextual-descriptive method. The findings demonstrate that conflict triggered by "oil politics" in Nigeria is a result of political class manipulations, marginalization, and lack of true federalism. The study suggests a policy change in line with the tenets of true federalism that will enable individual states to obtain greater control over their resources. This will also ensure sustainable development in the Nigeria oil sector that is currently riddled with contention and strife.

The role theory plays in research work cannot be over-emphasized. A theory that is apt gives direction to research work in explaining, organizing, analyzing, and predicting phenomenon and showing their relationships in order to enhance understanding. Despite these roles played by theory, upcoming scholars and students many at times fail to use theory that is apt in their research work, while some skip to adopt any theory in their research, even when it is necessary to adopt one. Thus, leading to disjointed and poor research work. Lack of good theory and/or lack of its correct application instantly de-links the relationship and blurs the understanding of research questions, variables, and hypotheses, which theory integrates to give a coherent and holistic view of phenomenon, and answering the question of “why” the phenomenon is the “way” it is. Explanatory and qualitative research approaches were employed. Secondary data were collected from books, journal articles; internet materials, etc. were used in analyzing the roles theory plays in research work. The findings are (1) that the purpose of theory is to explain, describe, analyze, and predict phenomenon to aid understanding (2) a good theory that is apt and well applied gives clarity and logicality to the problem understudy (3) theory in research is like a bridge that links concepts, variables, and hypotheses. The paper recommends among other things that scholars/teachers should devote more chapters or contribute more papers in journal specifically on theory.

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Imbalances in Nigeria's federal arrangement have been a constant source of conflict in Nigeria's politics. Fundamentally, the federal structure was adopted to accommodate Nigeria's multi-ethnic nationalities. The dissatisfaction among the federating units underlies an unending search for an acceptable revenue sharing formula contention. The problem identified is that the current formula gives more revenue to the Federal government rather than to the State and Local Governments that have greater base and responsibilities for the provision of social welfare to the people. The arrangement stifles the sub national governments' ability to provide social welfare and accomplish other statutory responsibilities, aggravates crises of relative deprivation, accentuates corruption and intensifies ethnic politics. Being ex-post facto, the paper uses qualitative expository analysis to examine the nature and character of Nigeria's fiscal relations and the implications for socioeconomic development. The finding is that Nigeria, being a consumptive mono economy, is overly susceptible to external shocks. The country therefore, needs to allocate more revenue to the sub-national governments in order to encourage an integrative, bottom-up, people-oriented development. It recommends that the vertical revenue allocation formula be restructured in the following proportions: federal 35%; state 40%; local government 25%. Moreover, derivation principle should be given primacy in horizontal allocation formula to encourage competition among the tiers of government. The economy should be diversified to reduce over-dependence on federal allocation while the fight against corruption should be sustained.