STRUGGLE FOR REGISRATION: LAGOS SPN HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING

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.

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. 

 

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.

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.

Report by:

MoshoodOshunfurewa and ChineduAgbebire