THE BUHARI/APC GOVERNMENT MUST BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF LIVES DUE TO ABUJA FLOOD

WE CHARGE COMMUNITY PEOPLE TO MOBILIZE AND DEMAND PROPER DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO AVERT FUTURE TRAGEDY

The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Abuja chapter, condoles with the victims of the heavy rainfall that resulted into flooding at Giri quarters, Gwagwalada and Kuje areas of Abuja, in the early hours of Saturday, 25th of July 2020. According to reports, a family of five were swept away by the flood, about 30 persons are also rumoured to be missing, and a whole building collapsed in Kuje, Abuja. For us, the blame of this tragedy must be placed at the door-step of the APC/Buhari administration and the previous anti-masses governments. This is because the tragedy could have been avoided if the federal government and the area council had made necessary infrastructural provision to allow free flow of water. But nothing like this has been done.

Notably, these affected areas are mostly occupied by poor working masses who had to resort to living in these areas because of the inability to afford the exorbitant rent in other parts of Abuja. These areas, over the years, have been neglected and under developed by the successive pro-capitalist governments in Abuja. These years of neglect have meant that residents in these areas do not have access to basic infrastructures like roads, good drainage system to allow easy passage of water etc. This tragedy experienced by residents of Kuje, Giri and Gwagwalada is not new, just as much as the underdevelopment in these places are not new. A serious government ought to have found a solution to this problem which is almost becoming a yearly tragedy and leaving many homeless and dead.

The DSM Abuja Chapter demands that government should take emergency drastic step to address the situation and prevent a reoccurrence of this misery. This should involve a well-funded public works programme under the control and management of workers and communities to begin to construct drainages and sewer system, roads, well planned and affordable public housing for the workers and poor etc. Giving that we are in a period of rainfall, a reoccurrence of this situation is just around the corner if immediate actions are not taken.

Given the fact that the Buhari/APC government is an anti-poor capitalist government, only mass struggle can make it meet demands for improvement. We in the Democratic Socialist Movement, DSM, Abuja Chapter urge community people to begin to mobilise against the poor and life threatening conditions that they have been subjected to due to the irresponsibility of government. We demand adequate compensation for all victims of this calamity. Immediate housing provision must be made available for those that have been rendered homeless due to this flood.

The poorest areas in Abuja most prone to flooding are dominated by working people. Therefore, any struggle to begin to fight for improvement has to involve the trade unions and community associations. The DSM calls on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to organise workers and community people in a campaign involving protests and demonstrations to fight for these demands.

We believe that only a united struggle of the working masses can bring about a workers and poor people’s government based on socialist policies and end the crises created by capitalism.

Adaramoye Michael

Branch Secretary DSM, Abuja