FREEDOM COMES ONLY THROUGH STRUGGLE: We can emancipate ourselves and get rid of these exploitative oppressors only when we rise up, fight for our rights and get rid of their system through revolution. The oppressors know this. That is why they repress us. Over 30 journalists and other citizens have been arrested for no just cause over the last few months, some for simply “insulting” the president or a governor.

And when CORE launched the #RevolutionNow campaign last year, government filled the streets with armed security personnel. They brutally dispersed peaceful protests, beat up over 50 demonstrators and arrested many of us. But that did not stop us. Repression must not stop us. It cannot stop us if we march united as masses fed up with the system and ready to fight until victory. That is how we defeated the military, that is how we will defeat the entire capitalist system together.

We are many, but the looters and oppressors are few. So, they sow seeds of division in our midst. They try to divide us on the lines of race, ethnicity, religion, etc. But they are united on boards of big businesses and in governments where they exploit us together. Look at those running the federal and states governments and those on the boards of all the major companies raking in billions of naira. They include the big men (and a few big women) from all the ethnic groups.

Thus, we the poor masses, must stand united, based on demands to improve our lives, and fight to emancipate ourselves. Fight for:

An economy that works for the masses (and not a handful of individuals, banks, government officials and multinational corporations)

Payment of a living wage for all workers and unemployment benefits for poor unemployed people

The tens of thousands of workers sacked by companies during the COVID-19 pandemic to be reinstated with full payment

Decent housing for all, guaranteed by government, and everybody whose homes or workplaces have been demolished paid compensation. 

Immediate reversal of the fuel pump price to N123 per litre

A reversal of the new stamp charges, VAT, etc and to stop any further increase in electricity tariff

Universal provision of quality health services and education as enforceable rights (and all public officers and their family members barred from using foreign or private healthcare facilities and schools)

An effective and democratic end to rising insecurity, with the poor masses uniting to cooperate across ethnic lines and defend themselves

An end to systemic corruption and impunity – all the looters must be brought to book and the monies they have stolen recovered and used to genuinely provide social services to the masses.

Fight for #RevolutionNow!

The masses united and determined, cannot be defeated!

The time to act is now!!