Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) |
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For struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria |
Committee for a Workers' International DSM, PO Box 2225, Agege, Lagos Come to DSM secretariat at 162, Ipaja Road, Agbotikuyo Bus-stop, Agege, Lagos Call our national office on (01) 8046603 or 0803 712 7929 |
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June 1, 2006 AFTER THE DEFEAT OF "THIRD TERM" AGENDA: WHERE DO THE MASSES GO?On Wednesday May 16, 2006, the senate arm of the National Assembly threw out, in its entirety, a bill seeking 116 amendments/alterations to the military imposed 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. The most topical and controversial clause of the proposed alterations sought a three-term maximum of 4 years each for the President and the Governors as opposed to a two-term of 4 years each prescribed by the 1999 Constitution. If this bill had sailed through, President Olusegun Obasanjo, and many of the incumbent state governors across the country, would have been given constitutional pretext to remain in power beyond May 2007 to continue to perpetuate their essentially anti-poor, corrupt rule. May 31, 2006 NO TO RETURN OF SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE BODIES IN OYO STATE!NCP Oyo State Calls for Mass ResistanceThe National Conscience Party (NCP) Oyo State Chapter condemns the plan of the Alao Akala led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Oyo State to privatise some primary and secondary schools in Oyo State under the pretext of returning them to their former missionary and private owners. May 18, 2006 National Conscience PartySouth-West Zone meetingOshogho, Osun State May 18, 2006 Statement on the current Nigerian situationThe meeting notes that the Obasanjo regime's plot to extend its rule beyond 2007 has failed. It rejoices with Nigerians for checkmating the elongation of the regime that has brought only monumental hardship, poverty for the mass majority of the people. It however alerts the people that until a working peoples party comes to power, it is not yet hurrah. While noting the role played by the National Assembly in killing the bill for the elongation of the tenure of the regime, the meeting affirms that both chambers of the National Assembly are not against the regime on its anti-poor policies. It therefore calls on all pro-labour organisations, mass political parties with similar ideology and programmes with NCP to work together to wrestle political power from these political vultures and their parties that have made life miserable for the poor masses. It is only this that can bring an end to mass poverty in the midst of plenty. May 10, 2006 MAY DAY 2006 in NigeriaINTRODUCTIONLike their counterparts internationally, Nigerian workers, organised in three different federations of trade unions, NLC, TUC and CFTU, marked this year International Workers' Day, otherwise known as May Day. Rallies were held in all the state capitals and Abuja. NLC and CFTU held a joint central rally in Abuja while TUC did its own in Lagos. May 3, 2006 May Day:Workers Rescue DSM Members from PoliceSupport the Call for a Mass Working Peoples PartyThe major highlight of this year May Day event in Abuja, where the central rally of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Congress of Free Trade Unions (CFTU) took place, was the heroic display of workers who foiled the arrest of Demola Yaya (Demo) and Eko John Nicholas (two leading members of Democratic Socialist Movement) by the police. Workers in their hundreds physically swarmed on the police when they were taking the comrades away from the venue and wrested the comrades from their grip.
February 23, 2006 BEKO RANSOME-KUTI: A SOCIALIST PORTRAITBy Segun Sango,General Secretary, Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM)Coming less than six months after the untimely death of Chima Ubani, a steadfast labour and working class fighter, Beko Ransome-Kuti's death at this point in time represents a double tragedy for all those struggling for permanent improvement in working masses' living standard and political freedom. February 23, 2006 Lagos Symposium in commemoration of BekoA symposium organised by Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) as part of activities lined up for the burial ceremony of Beko Ransome Kuti was held on Thursday, February 23, 2006 in Lagos. February 20, 2006 National Conscience Party (NCP)Lagos State Chapter2003 ELECTIONS RIGGING:
Socialist Democracy special issue – February 2006REMOVAL OF GOVERNOR LADOJA AND THE LABOURING MASSESOn 12 January, 2006, Chief Rashidi Ladoja was removed from office by the factional majority of the Oyo State House of Assembly, as the governor of Oyo State. January 21, 2006 National Conscience Party, Lagos State ChapterThird Term Debate:*No to Obasanjo and All Anti-Poor Capitalist Politicians* For Regime and Fundamental Policy ChangeFor the working masses, Obasanjo’s regime is nothing short of absolute disaster. In this regard the several general strikes and mass protests waged by the working masses against the regime are clear demonstrations of the people’s desire to end this unjust dispensation. January 12, 2006 World Social Forum, Bamako, Mali
Reports from BamakoLanre Arogundade, a leading member of the DSM and a well known Nigerian journalist, participated in the polycentric World Social Forum which took place in Bamako, Mali in January and also reported on it for various news media. We reprint below two of his reports
January 21, 2006 Globalisation and Agriculture: Every one suffersBY LANRE AROGUNDADEThe negative effect of globalisation on Agriculture and food production is not limited to the countries of the South but extends to the Northern hemisphere as well. This fact is emerging as discussions get underway at the Bamako, Mali, Polycentric world social forum. January 20, 2006 Trade Unionists adopt measures to combat privatisationBy Lanre Arogundade’’Essential services should not be subjected to the logic of profit’’ This was the consensus yesterday of a panel trade unionists and activists that examined the role of the trade unions in the struggle against privatisation at the on-going Mali social forum. 23rd December, 2005 Lagos State National Conscience PartyDEPLOYMENT OF ADDITIONAL 6000 POLICE OFFICERS IN LAGOS STATEOn Monday December 19 2005, President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, gave a directive that additional 6,000 police officers be deployed to Lagos State. This decision according to President Obasanjo became necessary because of the deplorable security situation in the former Nigerian capital. Ipso facto, this deployment is expected to curb the high rate of crimes in the state and make the nation’s commercial hub attractive to investors. December 22, 2005 MINIMUM WAGE:LABOUR MUST IMMEDIATELY COMMENCE MASS MOBILISATION OF RANK AND FILE WORKERS AND YOUTHS IN THE COMMUNITIESWe in the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) fully support the demand of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for an immediate increase in the minimum wage, which is already long overdue. We call on the NLC to reach out to other Labour centres (TUC and CFTU) with whom they should together immediately evolve a comprehensive programme of action around which the rank and file workers and pro-labour organisations and activists will be mobilised to achieve this well deserved goal. December 15, 2005 ANOTHER FATAL AIR CRASH, THE DIVIDEND OF PRIVATIZATIONThe fatal air crash and third in two months involving a Sosoliso Airline DC 10 flight 1145 from Abuja to Port Harcourt on December 10 at the Port Harcourt Airport in Rivers State, killing 109 passengers and crew members on board, with one survivor, is another clear pointer that the aviation industry is in a very bad shape. Among those who died were 71 students of Loyola Jesuit College in Abuja who were returning home for their Christmas holiday.
November 18, 2005 LIBERIAN ELECTIONS – RIGHT WING VICTORY WILL ONLY AGGRAVATE THE PREVAILING BAD SITUATIONBy: Peluola Adewale, Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) Nigeria Baring any eventuality Liberia, the first republic in Africa, has produced the first elected female president in the continent, though this is not the first time a woman would lead the war ravaged country. George Weah, a former world footballer of the year and his party, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), have challenged the yet to be officially declared victory of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former senior loan officer of the World Bank, on the basis of allegations that the run-off election was fraught with fraud. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal filled by CDC and referred it to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) which has begun investigation into the fraud claims. November 9, 2005 NIGERIA RAPIDLY DESCENDS INTO AN ABYSS: ONLY ASOCIALIST CHANGE CAN SAVE THE MASSESBetween 22 and 23 October 2005, we members of the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Nigerian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI), debated and discussed extensively in our 16th National Congress, socio-economic problems confronting the poor working masses in Nigeria and proffered a way out of these crises. October 1st, 2005 DSM leafletPRONACO’S HISTORIC CONFERENCEA SOCIALIST APPRAISALThe DSM wholeheartedly welcomes the initiative of PRONACO leaders to hold this historic conference. Since Nigeria was undemocratically created by British imperialism in 1914, this will be the first time that a non-governmental conference of this nature is being held or allowed to hold to discuss/determine the key issues surrounding the existence of Nigeria as a corporate entity. However, going by the composition of PRONACO's membership and leadership, its socio-political outlook and modus operandi, we regret to assert, very little will come out of this confab either politically or materially to better the lots of the suffering masses across the country and especially those of the minority nationalities in the oil producing Niger Delta region. September 21, 2005. DSM PRESS STATEMENTRELEASE ASARI DOKUBO NOW!The Rivers State Police Command yesterday, Tuesday, September 20, 2005 arrested and subsequently flew to Abuja Mujahid Dokubo Asari, the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) in connection with a threat credited to the President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Jon Jon Oyinfie, that the British investments and citizens might be attacked in Nigeria if Governor Diereye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa state arrested and being quizzed by metropolitan police in London over alleged money laundering is not released. September 17, 2005 NLC/LASCO anti-fuel hike ralliesA ROARING SUPPORT FOR REGIME CHANGE IN BENINLike in Lagos, the turn out was massive, shops were closed in all the routes of the processions, traffic was extremely low. The march began at about 8 am from the University of Benin Gate area, with a large crowd of students, youths and workers, led by the NLC president, Adams Oshiomhole, gathering more and more crowd of workers and traders as the procession protest\rally moved through Lagos Road, through New Benin and all other major streets of Benin. Thousands of supporters lined the streets and residential areas to vent their anger against the government, applauded the initiative of the labour leaders in organising and leading the protest as well as urged them for further action. September 15, 2005 Lagos rally against fuel rise hikeMASS TURN-OUT SHOWS WILLINGNESS TO STRUGGLESOCIALIST CALL FOR ACTION GETS GOOD RESPONSE
The massive turn-out by Nigerians in their hundreds of thousands to a rally called by Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) against the incessant increase in the fuel price and other neo-liberal, anti-poor polices of the Obasanjo led PDP government on Wednesday, 14 September, 2005 is another testimony to the fact that Nigerian poor working people are ever prepared to struggle for a change. What has been holding them back is leadership. With a correct labour leadership and focus, the poor working masses have resolved to kick-out the pro-rich and anti-poor Obasanjo’s regime as nothing positive, as long as this regime and its anti-poor policies hold sway, can come to the masses way. September 14, 2005 Special issue Socialist DemocracyNLC/LASCO protests:Fuel price hike, chase out Obasanjo regimeThe current hike of fuel price is totally unjustifiable. According to the government, petroleum products are being subsidised by $4.5 million a day. However, when this so-called subsidy is compared with what income is daily generated from oil sales, then, the absolute anti-poor character of the Obasanjo capitalist government becomes totally indisputable. September 1, 2005 ONE FUEL PRICE HIKE TOO MANYMarxists often state that counter-revolution invariably always act as the whiplash of revolution. This is the best way to interpret the easy manner with which some of the slogans which were raised by the DSM were unanimously adopted at the meeting of the Joint Action Forum (JAF) which held on 31st August, 2005 in the wake of the hike of a litre of petrol price from N51 to N65. August 31, 2005
Joint Action ForumREGIME CHANGE IS OUR STANDMASS RESISTANCE IS OUR VEHICLESYSTEM CHANGE IS OUR GOALText of Press Conference given by the Joint Action Forum (JAF) on August 31, 2005 at the Centre for Constitutional Governance, Lagos. 25th August, 2005 National Conscience Party Lagos State Chapter PRESS STATEMENT: LABOUR, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AND PRO-MASSES POLITICAL PARTIES MUST MOBILISE AGAINST THE PROPOSED FUEL HIKE, AND FOR REGIME AND SYSTEM CHANGEThe latest proposed hike in the prices of the petroleum products by Obasanjo’s regime despite the soaring incomes from crude oil sales shows the utter insensitivity of this regime towards the plight of the poor working masses and the economy. If at all it could be debated that the government meant well with its neo-liberal policies, this singular action shows that it does not.
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