NIGERIA AT 57: ONLY A MASS WORKING PEOPLE’S POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE CAN TAKE US OUT OF THE DOLDRUMS

PRESS STATEMENT

We of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) call on mass of working people across the country to utilize this year’s occasion of the “flag” independence of Nigeria to renew efforts to build a genuine mass working people’s political alternative through which they can set themselves free from the current socio-economic bondage the successive ruling class regimes including the present one has thrown the working masses into. This year’s commemoration of independence is taking place against the background of cacophony of ethnic and divisive sloganeering in our body polity.

We would recall that few months ago, some self-confessing “Northern youths” in a press conference declared a “quit notice” to Igbos in the Northern parts of Nigeria with the notice set to expire on 1^st October, 2017. While these elements claimed that they have withdrawn the “quit notice”, there is general apprehension as to possible break-out of ethno-religious killings in Northern parts of the country.

We of the Socialist Party of Nigeria are totally opposed to divisive ethno-religious sloganeering and sectarian language. We call for building of inter-ethnic working people’s committees’ of action to resist any sectarian attack on working class communities in the North and other parts of the country.

We are also opposed to the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime. We are opposed to the militarization of the South-eastern part of the country and the repression of the agitations for self-determination. We uphold the right to self-determination as a basic fundamental right. However, our opposition to the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra is not a support for the alienating speeches of the leader of the organisation, Nnamdi Kanu and sectarian approach and method   of the organisation.

We recognize the right to self-determination up to secession if it is the democratic decision of people of an ethnic group. However, we campaign for a united struggle of all working people, youth and the masses of Nigeria for improved conditions side by side with struggle for a united pan-Nigerian working people’s political overthrow of the entire ruling elite of all ethnic stripes and the enthronement of a genuine working people’s government that will guarantee basic needs of life for the vast majority as well as sustainable economic development. 

We in the Socialist Party of Nigeria are committed to this task and we are in a higher stage of actualization of our registration in order to act as a campaigning organisation within and outside the broader working class movement. We are glad to state that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja hearing our matter for the registration of our political party has set the 2^ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2017 as the DATE FOR JUDGMENT in the matter. We call on everyone –workers, unemployed people, artisans, youths and students- to join the Socialist Party of Nigeria and strive to achieve this urgent and important task.   

 

Chinedu Bosah

National Secretary