The Socialist
party of Nigeria (SPN) Lagos state chapter on Saturday, November 22, 2014, held
a public symposium at NUD primary school, Arumoh Street off Layinka,
AjegunleApapa, Lagos.Speaking at the meeting were Segun Sango, (National
Chairperson), ChineduBosah, (National Secretary), Dagga Tolar (SPN NEC Member) and
other members of SPN.
The symposium
was moderated by the SPN Lagos secretary, Moshood Oshunfurewa and was kick-started
at about 2:00pm with solidarity songs.
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| Segun Sango |
Speaking on the
theme: “2015 General Election, the state of the Nation and the way forward,” Segun
Sango took time to x-ray the pitiable state of Nigeria socio-economic and
political situation and the inevitable need for socialist intervention. With
the recent dwindle in international oil price, which is the mainstay of
Nigerian economy, Nigerian poor masses should buckle up for more economic
hardship from Nigeria capitalist government and its economic strategists as
austerity measures will be imposed on the poor masses.
Now, 2015
general election is around the corner without any hope for the poor masses as it
will mean the continuation of anti-poor and neoliberal capitalist policies
presently implemented by the Jonathan led federal government. More worrisome is
the fact that there is no pro-working people political party at moment that can
challenge this clueless capitalist government both at national and state government
levels come 2015. The farcical and self acclaimed opposition party, the All
Progressive Congress (APC) is by no means different from the monstrous Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP). Ultimately they are all the same substance with
different coloration. For instance, all the 36 states Commissionerof Finance irrespective
of political party affiliation collectively agreed to the withdrawal of the
so-called fuel subsidy. The same goes with the national minimum wage.
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| A cross section of members and supporters |
The
18,000 Minimum Wage was signed into law in 2011 but as we speak, none of the
state government has fully implemented it including the APC state governors.
Worst still there is a desperate move by all politicians of all ruling
political parties to remove the minimum wage from the exclusive list.
The political
discussion provoked questions and contributions from members and contacts present
at the meeting. Consequently, all
arrived at a conclusion that only a working peoples’political party armed with
socialist ideas and policies can deliver Nigeria from its present economic
quagmire. This understanding further gave a boost to our commitment in the
fight for the registration of SPN which is presently having legal battle with
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the later refusal to register
us as a political party despite having fulfilled all the constitutional and legal
requirements.
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| Dagga Tolar |
Dagga Tolar in
his sum-up speech pointed to the challenges of all sectors of the economy
before the fall in the oil price in the international market, and now, the
living conditions of the working masses is going to be further attacked. He
maintained that the only alternative is to build the SPN as a vehicle for election
as well as a revolutionary party with genuine working class program.
Twenty six (26)
people attended the program and at the end of the event five indicated interest
to join the party. Some copies of SPN poster were given them to kick start the
campaign of SPN registration in their communities. A sum of three thousand naira was raised as
struggle fund.
The symposium
ended with solidarity songs.
MoshoodOshunfurewa
and ChineduAgbebire
