#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria. Free Michael Lenin, OSB Sankara and others Now!

We Condemn Killings, Unjust Arrests and Repression of Peaceful Protests Nationwide by Tinubu Government

The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) condemns the arrest of Adaramoye Michael (Michael Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo (OSB Sankara), both members of the DSM, and two others by plain-clothes security operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) in the wee hours of Monday August 5, 2024 in their house in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. At present, we gather that they are detained in the Abuja area. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the four as well as hundred of others who have been unjustly incarcerated by different security agencies in connection with the ongoing nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria.
Michael Lenin, who is both the National Coordinator of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) and National Mobilisation Officer of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), is one of the organisers of the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest in Abuja. Together with other organisers, Michael spoke at a press conference on Sunday August 4 where he condemned the broadcast of President Bola Tinubu for having arrogantly refused to address the plights and demands of the protesters but only indicated the continuation of the neoliberal offensive. Michael and other organisers therefore called for the continuation of the peaceful protest in Abuja. The house he lives was raided Gestapo-style less than 10 hours after the press conference.
This arrest is the continuation of the vicious repression, alongside threats of repression, of democratic right across the country in a bid to prevent or restrict protest against anti-poor capitalist policies of the Tinubu government which have excruciatingly aggravated the cost-of-living crisis.
For instance, Michael had been subjected to an intense security surveillance, violating his right to privacy, right from the period of mobilization and preparation for the nationwide protest as his phone number was illegally tracked and monitored by security operatives. He managed to escape arrest two days before the start of the nationwide hunger protest as a security operative phoned him, pretending to be an activist whose phone call he was expecting. He had freely disclosed to the agent both where he was present and going before he suddenly realised the game and played along to divert the secret operative to a far-flung place. Also, on one of the days of protest that witnessed another violent dispersal by security operatives, he was singled out for a hot chase before he managed to outpace the security agents.
Indeed, in Abuja, police and other security agencies daily unleashed state terror on the peaceful protesters, yielding no space for a free expression of democratic rights. Printing shops were illegally raided and printers arrested or intimidated, making it difficult for activists to freely or openly produce flyers and other materials for the protest.
Also, in a place like Lagos, where Tinubu is a former state governor and a political godfather, the government employed every crude means to stifle democratic rights and dissent. They did not only use security operatives but also recruited thugs to unleash terror on protesters and promoted an ethnic hatred campaign in order to divide the working people and youth. They also used a combined force of bribing and intimidation to attempt to cow many residents. Besides, the state government got a court injunction to bar street protests, restrict protesters to two specific public parks and bind four activists including Hassan Taiwo Soweto, a leading member of DSM, to the unconstitutional order.
It is heartening that despite a fierce atmosphere of threat and fear imposed by the government and its hirelings, many Nigerians refused to surrender their fundamental and democratic rights and trooped to streets across the country to call for the reversal of the anti-poor policies of Tinubu government.
However, sadly across the country, many protesters have been killed, maimed or arrested by security agencies. According to reports, at least over 40 protesters have been killed by security forces so far. We demand justice for all the victims of the state repression We call on the labour movement, mass organizations, human rights groups and media to condemn the unwholesome attacks on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and movement, something which also contributed to how and why the protest turned violent in some states. We call on them to join the call for an immediate release of Michael Lenin, Babatunde Oluajo Sankara and others unjustly detained nationwide.
By and large, through the protest, Nigerians have made a bold statement that they are no longer prepared to accommodate capitalist policies which have thrown many more people into deep poverty and misery. What is missing is a mass party that explains how the contradiction and failure of capitalism is at the root of the deep crisis and puts forward a socialist alternative. Therefore, DSM is using the intervention in the current struggle to reiterate our call on the working masses and labour movement to form and build a mass working people’s party that fights for a socialist program that can end the misery and uncertainty of life under capitalism. This is in addition to being active organisers in many states, arguing for immediate demands that should be fought for and winning change-seeking elements to socialist idea.
Peluola Adewale
Organising Secretary
For DSM