For Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria
VISION 2020 A vision lacking in truth and reality By Victor Osakwe The present PDP government led by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua came to power on 29 May, 2007 after a fraudulent election that all election monitors described as the worst ever witnessed in any party of the world. Yet, the ruling class struck to the fraudulent election results and
STOCK MARKET FALL A Transient Phase or Generic Weakness of the Market? Public funds must not be used to bail out gamblers By Peluola Adewale After losing over Å20,000 (Å1.68 million in today’s money) of his fortune to speculation in the infamous South Sea bubble in the 1720s, Isaac Newton, the foremost physicist lamented, “I can calculate the motions of
IF OBAMA WINS……….. After the final state primaries, Barack Obama has effectively secured the Democratic nomination for the presidential election in November. The fact that the contest was between an African-American and a woman symbolises deep social changes in the U.S. The two campaigns were quite different, however. Hillary Clinton arrogantly presented herself as the rightful, dynastic heir to the
MUGABE-TSVANGIRAI ROTTEN ALLIANCE Suffering continues for the Zimbabwean poor By Kola Ibrahim Events postdating the political stalemate that followed the unilateral elections in Zimbabwe where Robert Mugabe was the sole contestant could hardly be described as respite for the poor working masses of Zimbabwe. Before reaching deadlock the news had it that Mugabe and the leader of opposition Movement for
THE JUMBO PAY RISE: NLC, TUC AND LASCO MUST GIVE YAR’ADUA GOVERNMENT A TWO-WEEK ULTIMATUM TO PAY A NEW LIVING MINIMUM WAGE TO WORKERS ACROSS BOARD To us in the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), the recent pro-rich anti-poor policies being implemented by Yar’Adua government, such as the proposed hike in fuel prices and jumbo pay rises for political office holders
BAKASSI CONTROVERSY IS SCRAMBLE FOR OIL, NOT THE PEOPLES’ INTEREST By Peluola Adewale, Democratic Socialist Movement, Lagos The handover of Bakassi to Cameroon have come and gone but the contradiction still remains. The battle between the governments obviously was over the controls of oil and not about the people considering the complete neglect of the people by the two countries
Teachers Strike Suspension: DSM commends the Steadfastness of Teachers So Far The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) commends the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the whole public school teachers in the country for their steadfastness and resolve during the period of the just suspended strike that lasted from 29th June to 29th of July 2008. We also commend Labour and
Segun Sango @ 50 Political Celebration: A Testimonial of Life Commitment to Working Class Struggles Segun Sango at 50 celebration – photo DSM It was indeed a testimonial of commitment to struggle for social change. The political celebration of the 50th birthday of Segun Sango, the General Secretary Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), on July 26 drew the crÄme de la
MASS RALLY AGAINST CORRUPTION: PROSECUTE INDICTED TREASURY LOOTERS BUT LABOUR MUST FIGHT FOR A NEW SOCIAL ORDER Segun Sango The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) fully supports the mass rallies/protests against treasury looting fixed for May 8, 2008 by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC). These could be a launch pad for a real campaign to put
Socialist Democracy – Special Edition April 2008 EDO: Riggers Defeated, Adams is Governor! Build a Mass Movement to Secure Change The long delayed declaration of Adams Oshiomhole as the rightful winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship polls in Edo State was greeted by working people both in Edo and throughout the Federation with joy. Millions have seen it as
SOCIALIST MANIFESTO FOR ADAMS Adams Oshiomhole’s election manifesto contained many measures that would, if genuinely implemented, improve the lives of the working masses and poor. For instance the manifesto talks of re-inventing “the public school system”. Towards this, Oshiomhole has promised that his government “will restore, renovate and refurbish at least, two secondary schools and two primary schools in each
Adams Victory Shows Potential for Revolution Reports Olisa Penny, Socialist Democracy Political Correspondent in Edo state The 20th March 2008 woke with mixed feelings. That was the day set for the ruling on the Edo state governorship tussle. The day had been an eerie silence for seven hours (from 9am-3pm). Ears had been glued to the screen and radio, and
POWER PROJECT LOOTERS LABOUR MUST LEAD MASS ACTION TO BRING CULPRITS TO BOOK By Peluola Adewale While it lasted Nigerians were daily treated to a reality show at the public hearing on power sector expenditure on how Olusegun Obasanjo government that strutted around as an Olympian height of virtue and wisdom made fortune out misfortune of the entire nation. Arguably,
Pay A Living Pension Now! Being the text of a Press Conference by CDWR on the Plight of Pensioners on January 16, 2008. The motto of Nigerian pensioners reads, “Rest is sweet after retirement”. Yes, this is a statement of fact, but for retired workers, their daily harrowing experience has proved the motto to be a mere wishful thinking. Rest
ARGUING FOR A FIGHTING WORKING PEOPLES’ PARTY By Alayande Stephen T. The political equation again has brought to the fore the need for a Mass Working Peoples’ Party. More than before, the masses are suffering and are reduced to slaves in their own country, even amidst abundant and stupendous wealth. The perspective of building a campaign for a genuine Mass
SAULA MURDER: One Killing, Too Many By Demola Yaya & Sankara On January 7, 2008, Lagos commuters who were going for one business or the other were stranded for most part of the day especially in areas like Ikotun, Iyana Ipaja, Agege, Ikeja and Oshodi. Why? Members of Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) had withdrawn their
DANCING ROUND THE FUEL PRICE HIKE By Adeola Soetan As the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world, the steady rise of price of crude oil in international market is expected to be an economic blessing in oil revenue, human capital and infrastructural development but the paradox is a bout of economic misery occasioned by higher prices for
NMA, NARD AND THE HEALTH SECTOR CRISIS As Nigerian doctors poised for a sow down with the federal government over their remuneration and condition of service, Dr. Niran Okeowle, the General Secretary of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in this feature article traces the genesis of issues at stake and proffers the way forward. The highly engaging blog, Nigeria
CASTRO’S RESIGNATION OPENS UP NEW CHAPTER What Are The Prospects For The Revolution? By Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party (CWI, England and Wales) The formal resignation of Fidel Castro as President of Cuba opens up a new chapter in the history of Cuba and its revolution. Since his original illness in 2006 (an intestinal problem) intense discussion has been engendered about
THE AMBIGUITY OF “HOPE”: Barack Obama Frontrunner In Democrats’ Presidential Candidature Race By Alan Jones, Socialist Alternative (CWI, US, New York The spectacular victories of Barack Obama in a series of the Democratic primaries are a reflection of several deeper processes taking place in the United States. While there is still quite a way to go until the presidential candidature