Violent Repression: A Tale Of Negotiating Nigeria

 Preface of Thought!


The neo-fascist approach of Buhari govt to raging issues of national question will only engender worse problems. The continuous mass killing of Biafra agitators will not resolve the Biafran agitations, but turn many Nigerians, not only in the south-east and south-south, but across the country, into anti-state actors. While I don't agree with the Biafran idea, as it is divisive and does not address the economic quagmire faced by people of south-east or Nigeria as a whole, the belief being sold by Buhari govt that Nigeria's existence is not negotiable is totally wrong and ridiculous. Even if Nigeria has been in existence for more than a century, that has not thrown away the fact that the colonial creation of Nigeria which manipulated ethnic diversity in order to sustain neo-colonial politics and capitalist economic relation, will continue to serve as fetter for further development of the country. That Biafran issue, Niger delta crisis, religious fanaticism in the north, etc. have continued to exist for more than half a century, show that Nigeria's existence need to be reviewed and renegotiated albeit on political, socio-economic basis. This can only be done through a democratic involvement of working and oppressed people through Sovereign National Conference, in order to determine how Nigeria should exist, how the resources should be harnessed and utilised, etc. Moreover, only through a socialist economic planning can true liberation come the way of the working and oppressed people of Nigeria and Africa.

To think that by violently repressing peaceful protests of Biafran agitators or Niger delta communities, this govt can have a respite will be daydreaming. The continued reliance on brutal force will be the very nemesis of this govt, as it will generate anti-state instincts among dissenting voices across the country. In the last one year, close a thousand people have been extra-judicially murdered by the armed forces; close to 2000 have died as product of extra-judicial killings and negligence of security forces.

While Buhari may be right to reject the report of the kangaroo and undemocratic National Conference of the corrupt Jonathan govt, his alternative of brutal repression will only yield worse outcome for the govt and the country, with the poor people paying the greatest lethal price. The worsening economic woes, which the Buhari govt has no viable solution to, will only add fuel to the latent conflagration.

Even on a bourgeios basis, the govt can organise national confab comprising elected representatives of communities, ethnic nationalities, labour movement, etc. This along with enforcement of justices for existing cases of abuses and extra-judicial killings (Zaria Shiites' massacre, killings of civilians in northeast, Biafran killings, Niger delta repressions, etc.), can begin to diffuse tensions associated with national question. But can a govt that is losing mass appeal daily and fearful of popular backlash against neo-liberal policies it is implementing or planning to implement, carry out these minimum actions? As Buhari runs out of popularity, the govt will rely more on repression as means of driving through unpopular policies. This is why we must oppose the neo-fascist tendency now.

Those supporting the mass murder and maltreatment of citizens (in Zaria, Niger Delta, Biafra, etc.), should know that they are helping this govt sharpen its monstrous fangs. They may one day become victims or direct accomplices of these horrible actions of govt.

By Kola Ibrahim.

Labour Must Unite To Win Concession

In social and political mobilization, the mood or body language of the people is very critical to understand whether the people are prepared for a fight (struggle) or not before drawing conclusion on the next line of action. It will be suicidal for any mass group to wage any kind of war without the large percentage of the masses solidly behind that struggle. That is tantamount to colossal failure on arrival, and that has happened in this recent protest called by the Labour union. No doubt, when the recent pump hike was announced by the Government, Nigerians groaned in anger, disappointment but, obviously not ready for a fight (strike, protest). Perhaps Labour do not  understand that Nigerians have lost faith in the Labour union.


The division in the Nigerian Labour Congress was enough for them to have realized that there could be a problem in agreeing for a common position. A house that is not together, cannot work together. It was necessary for Labour to have re-organized, sorted out their differences and be united in one body before any mass action could be called. The last delegates’ convention that held an election in the Nigerian Labour Congress produced two factional executives that had till date worked independently of its own. 

Labour union and Civil Society groups failed to do its homework very well, they did not do a thorough analysis of the situation on ground to understand the mood of the people and labour failed to put up a social scientific gauge to understand the direction the mass majority of Nigerian where headed to with regards to this mass protest . No wide consultation, sensitization was embarked before declaring for a strike that the people are supposed to be fully part of. It is the peoples fight hence; the people must be encouraged to take charge. 

Nigerian parents pay highly to educate their children; the story of high, exorbitant and ridiculous fees is everywhere. Had our Labour complained, protested or forced government to do something positive on this anomaly in the education system, then we might have a reduced work load on parents. Virtually, every tertiary institution in the last two years has increased its fees to high heavens with no Labour union coming to the rescue of the students so, why will any reasonable student body mobilize its students for mass action called by Labour union?

Again, State and Local Government workers are owed salaries for months by their various Governors, and we see these Governors travelling outside the country for jamboree. Why has Labour not challenged these state executives? The Labour unions were here when Polithivians, former governors, and others signed into law large sums of money for their allowance and that of their deputies while the state bleeds. It is all these expenses that depletes the state accounts and makes it difficult for the states to pay workers salaries and pensions. 

In the past and till date, labour unions rely on the civil society groups for wider mobilization of the masses for effective actions. But, at every juncture, the Labour union will secretly dialogue with government and opt out without carrying the civil society along. There was never a struggle that the Labour unions sustained to the end, it was always one where the people are brought out and left at the middle of the road. It was in one of such protests in 2005 that we lost our very own, chief mobiliser, official spokesperson, Chima Ubani. Today, the Labour union and its former president, Adams Oshiomhole, who is now the Governor of Edo State has forgotten the family of Chima.  

Lest we forget, what business venture has labour ventured into? What is Labour’s contribution to the economy? The labour bus they tried to manage collapsed, what happened to that project? This is also a pointer that they have failed the people of Nigeria, that they are incapable of running any business efficiently and effectively. Aha! What about their political party, Labour Party? What happened to it? Where is it today? Did their former president, Adams Oshiomhole, not abandon the party?

Nigeria, as it is today, is like an airplane headed for the mountains. We are in a pure stagflation -high inflation (13.7 percent, looming recession (0.36 percent economic growth) and high unemployment (from 10.2 percent to 12.8 percent NBS Statistics, but  reality counters this statistic of unemployment) -with job losses everywhere and every day. Few individuals at the top living fat with public money and the rest below are shufering and smiling.

It is important  we understand that, labour has failed us does not mean we should not get involved in any action that question the obnoxious policies of government. Suspension of general strike is not struggle defeated but anarchism postponed. Ruling class enjoying a populism that has no strength but will soon be defeated.

 The people should know that there are no solution under capitalism, labour leaders should resolve its internal technical problem and re-fire to provide a working people political alternative to chase away this government of change that only chain the poor. However, our immediate concern as true progressives should not be the death of PDP or the collapse of APC. Both parties must die for genuine people's parties, based on ideology, to emerge.
We must all work to dismantle these monstrosities called parties and possess the political platforms which will shape the destiny of our country. Any expectation of real development devoid of taking practical steps to assist the death of these economic cum political enterprises of a rapacious few will amount to regrettable wishful thinking.

Our Labour unions must withdraw to its cocoon and do a surgical operation on its body to once again earn its respect and loyalty among Nigerians. They have as it is betrayed the trust the Nigerian people reposed in them. They do have internal crisis which they must speedy up to resolve. They must welcome criticisms to help the union body to be in form, for indeed they have lost relevance amongst the masses and it is a big problem they have at hand. They must run on their legs immediately and urgently with all humility to restore back their past glory. They still have chances of redeeming their shattered image if they are sincerely concerned. 

Government should know that Revolution is lurking around. The suspended strike of NLC is the first warning shot at the ruling class. The clash between labour and capital is inevitable in this regime. It can be suspended today, but it cannot be postponed to an indefinite period. It will take a System change and Socialist Revolution for us (masses) to take over governance from this our miss leaders (Labour Leaders and Polithivians). 

The people must Gear up for a general uprising!