2015 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND WORKING MASSES: LAGOS SPN HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING

By SPN Reporters

 

Against the background of the outcome of the Presidential election held on March 28, 2015, the Lagos State Chapter of the Socialist Party of Nigeria held a Public Meeting on Saturday, March 28^th, 2015. The meeting attended by members from Agege, Ajegunle and University of Lagos held a refreshing political review of the presidential election

The meeting kicked off with an introduction of the background of the meeting by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Moderator of the meeting on the need for genuine socialists and working class activists to examine the implications of the victory of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, MuhammaduBuhari at the March 28, 2015 polls. Taking off on the agenda, Ayo Ademiluyi gave a report on the state of the organization with update on the Lagos SPN Programme of Intervention in the 2015 general elections. He informed that the planned March 3^rd Lagos SPN protest rally on the last adjourned date of the SPN court matter could not hold due to fuel scarcity. He equally reported that branch tabling was held in Agege on March 14, 2015 as part of the intervention in the 2015 polls.  He informed that the next major upcoming events are the DSM National Committee meeting billed for April 18^th and 19th, the May Day Intervention for May 1^st , Branch meetings for May 16^th , tablings across   Branches for May 21^st and  Political Symposium for June 12, 2015.

Chinedu Bosah, still on the state of the organization gave update on the registration of the Socialist Party of Nigeria. He informed that on March 3^rd, 2015, the last adjourned date of the SPN court matter,  INEC through their lawyer made a move for out-of-court settlement, upon which the court adjourned the matter for May 22^nd ,2015. He informed further that the SPN counsel, Citipoint Chambers has written a letter to INEC to seek for a date for verification and INEC’s response is being awaited.

On the political discussion, “2015 Presidential Election: What Perspective for the Working Masses?”,Segun Sango, the National Chairperson of the Socialist Party of Nigeria was on hand to give a lead off. He underlined the vibrant response  of Nigerians to the election despite the initial postponement. He noted the fact that while the “change” slogan of the All Progressives Congress gained echo but it is entirely another thing that the incoming Buhari regime would carry out genuine change in terms of the living conditions of the working masses, given that it operates within the precincts of capitalism. He submitted the need to step up the struggle for a genuine working people’s political alternative and the need to step up the efforts in building the Socialist Party of Nigeria.

In their reactions and comments, comrades one after another submitted that there is no fundamental difference between the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party. They submitted further that it remains entirely another question how the Buhari regime will implement its populist promises made during the campaigning period, given the ongoing crisis ravaging Nigerian capitalism, specifically the collapse of the crude oil sales and the fall of the naira. In all, there was concession that the widespread illusions in Buhari may hold back struggle for a short period but as soon as the regimecarry out fundamental attack on the living conditions of the working masses, another period of ferocious struggle will open up. It was concluded that there is need to rebuild the trade union movement and continue the agitation for a genuine working people’s political alternative. It was finally submitted that the struggle for the registration of the Socialist Party of Nigeria must be fought to conclusion with the aim of building the SPN as a mass electoral opposition against the All Progressives Congress.      

In his sum up, Segun Sango highlighted the fact that the new political situation requires a new leadership and he challenged comrades to take up political responsibilities of building the Socialist Party of Nigeria. He further submitted that this would be linked with a stepped-up campaign for a genuine working people’s political alternative.

On finance, Ayo Ademiluyi informed that a financial appeal would be sent out to comrades for the upcoming June 12 Political Symposium,that is being planned by the Lagos SPN. A fighting fund of N1, 020 was raised at the meeting.

As AOB, Moshood gave an update on the funeral preparations for the late Uche Dike of Ajegunle Branch and he reported that there is no date yet for the burial but there is a plan by the Branch to send one or two representatives to his hometown for the burial in Imo State. One minute silence was held in the memory of the late UcheDike.The meeting ended with solidarity songs and a preparedness to engage the current period correctly.