On skepticism and against sectarianism
Omolade,
Your skeptism or cynicism is not out of place. Who would just jump onto the bandwagon without looking carefully. But, if you have been following debates and conversations on this listserve you will realise that no one scripted this to work out this way. Many of the collaborators on this initiatives were interlocutors who disagreed on the way forward. I for one sounded pessimistic about FOI in Nigeria and argued that unless there is a political revolution of a sort, a revolution that brings the real people into ownership of politics there can be no context for transformative politics. You know better than I do on this point.
Omolade, you and I are products of the students' movement. We later joined the human rights movement and traveled out of the country to learn more. I am back to Nigeria and you are yet to return. I believe when you finish your study you will join us- the frustrated and dehumanized ex-that, ex-this. But, the point is that those who returned and those of you who constantly come home or remain in touch with home feel really embarrased and ashamed. I constantly remind myself that if I end up servicing this disempowerment of the Nigerian people then my studies and struggles are in vain. I believe most of people in this formation think the same.
Omolade, there is no doubt that we are not all saints and the change we dream is not easy. This is not another Obama-nostalgia. We can all decide to get inspired by history and determine our faith. Obama is a valuable inspiration. Obama is not the reason or the prototype.
we should not now begin to be demoralized and demobilized by ideas of hijack and fifth columnists. The point is if our commitment is strong and real and all the good and well-meaning people join we can then structure what we want. Two can't walk together except they agree.
Omolade, I agree that we should try as much as possible to live above board on this and take it to the people. Skepticism is allowed but demobilization is not allowed. We accept criticism to refine and restrategize. But, no bogey of 'we have seen it before' or 'watch out: there are fronts' will demobilize us. We will try our best.
Sam
Dr. Sam Amadi
Director, (Research& Programs)
Ken Nnamani Center for Leadership & Development
Abuja, Nigeria
234-803-329- 9879
From: Omolade Adunbi
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:05:58 PM
Subject: Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
Dear All
I commend those putting this together and I could see that some of the organizers are well intentioned but the question is: Is this a grand coalition of NGO bureaucrats who are suddenly inspired by the recent election of Barack Obama? If we are truly interested in forming a broad coalition that can challenge the "politrckians" for power, I think there are better ways of doing. First, we need to research why past coalitions failed to work. Having studied the pitfalls of the past, we can then project into the future. Part of our problem in Nigeria, particularly within civil society groups is that we like to jump into an ocean of ideas without first finding out how beneficial and relevant to our own situation such ideas might be. Therefore, without a proper understanding of our history, we might just be embarking on another wild goose chase. Let us first know where we are coming from before projecting into a new future.
My concern is that 2011 is around the corner and I could see many people in this listserve who are fronting for the so called politicians that are responsible for our current woes championing the idea of change. I am not convinced that the content of this current change is such that will benefit the greater number of Nigerians. We need a lot of convincing to do to show why key actors in the planning of this conference are not fronting for their former or current masters who were part of the pillaging of our commonwealth. Therefore, I am beginning to see this effort as something being put together by a distant hand using a familiar face within the broad civil society group. Wait a minute, we are planning a conference that will bring about change and Abuja is the best venue for it? How will the talakawas, the poor people we claim to represent that are spread across the nation be able to go to Abuja and reserve a room in a three, four or five star hotel? Can't we get a community hall or town hall somewhere to organize such a conference if we are truly interested in bringing about change in our country?
Finally, let us think seriously about our plans before we embark on another jamboree that will end up being a sloganeering effort. I am all for change but my own idea of change must be well thought-out, it must have form and meaning not just slogans because someone did it somewhere and succeeded. Thanks
Lade Adun
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To:
FOIcoalition@yahoogroups.com
Dear all,
I think we shouldn't shout anybody down for expressing view(s). I share Omolade's pessimism and would appreciate Sam's response than that of CA. I don't think I've met Sam; Jaye and Otive I know because we belong ideologically and my choice to attend was informed by the presence of these two Comrades and not because of Obama mentality- who becomes a President in an environments whose difference from that of Nigeria, is as far as the North Pole to south Pole. Secondly, I want to attend out of curiosity than because I believe in the kind of revolution CA is propagating. Majority of us (either within or outside Nigeria) know that Nigeria is a fail state (forget about Akuyili's re-branding) and we will prefer a more drastic solution. Our approaches are as multi dimensional as our looks, what the trio have done therefore as far as am concern is calling everybody for discussions. I don't believe that any concept has been adopted. If this true, then we should take serious exception to CA's comment on the payment for the Hall just because Omolade has a view that is asymmetrical to hers. I suppose this is not to be an elitist forum. Am reluctant to believe that the amount spent on the Hall was disclosed in the spirit of transparency by CA,but rather, that of ego. If we've not started a journey and someone is already robbing it on us, I think it is very unfortunate. Comrades I know from my involvement in the struggle picked the bills without much ado, ask Otive, Momoh, Chom, Lanre Arogundade etc...I would have been surprised if all of us should sleep and place our head in the same direction. If we want to lead we should accept to be rubbished and be willing to embed ideas.
I commend your efforts but I think we should accommodate various thoughts.
Regards as usual.
Femi Ibrahim
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, carol ajie wrote:
From: carol ajie
Subject: Re: Attn: Omolade Adunbi Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 11:52 AM
First I thank Oyebisi for his intervention.
Cynics said Obama couldnt do it, black man in a white house? he proved them long.
Please Oyebisi let us ask for where the fronts are located if we want readers to respect our criticisms or forever keep the peace of this struggle for change. It is cos we loathe distraction that Otive and Amadi and myself agreed to pay for Rock View venue from our pockets rather than bug patriots like Lade with contributions. You recall the FOI retreat that didnt hold, to pay for venue subscribers were told to contribute so we learnt from that and said this one will be differently run. As to committment, the only group we are committed to fronting for is the TALAKAWAS of the North & South. Yes progressives FRONT for them.
CA
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi wrote:
From: Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
Subject: Attn: Omolade Adunbi Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 7:42 AM
Dear Lade,
Thanks for yours!
I have been following posts on the list and was expecting a reaction like yours however while they are valid I think you will be adding more value to the meeting by bringing in your experience on some of the points raised.
It will be good if you start an independent research (qualitative and quantitative) on the reasons why coalitions failed and also why CSO jump into the pool of ideas without first researching, our history and other issues mentioned by you and then bring the results to the meeting. Since the agenda is still being couched the organizers might be able to accomodate your presentation as I am sure they are aware of the importance of such studies.
Your note on fronts brings to mind the culture of mutual suspicion that we have within us. I am sure you know that for movements such as this enemies are also needed to provide their own input as this helps also in shapping the agenda. I find some tips useful in the 48 laws of power that I am reading at the moment where the author adviced that we make our enemies our friends and also give them posts with that they will remain loyal to us. While that may not be politically correct in the bank of ideas it is useful.
Fronts will always be in our midst how we manage them is what is more important.
Bringing the poor into the picture is good and we often use the poor to get our agenda's through as individuals and organizations. Please revert to the purpose of this meeting, I would think that the meeting is meant to first discuss and lay down the strategies and tactics for the change we need. You cant bring the poor to such meetings at this time subsequent meetings will be in the form of a town hall meeting with the people coming in as stakeholders notice that some members have also stated their readiness to regionalize this initiative.
Agreed the need for People mobilization is key but it has to be on a solid and well planned ideology, strategy and tactics.
Please advice the organizers concreately on your own idea of change so that they can include it in the concept of change in order to make it broad and rich.
Thanks again for your comments.
Oyebisi
Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
393 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, 11216 Apt 4, USA
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To:
FOIcoalition@yahoogroups.com
Dear All,
I think it is important for people to be able to raise ideas and points of concern at point in the course of the development of a process. Because people did not come up with suggestions earlier does not mean that they can not point out the limitations of choices that have then consequently been made.
But i also think that it is important that the way we also raise our concerns matter a lot too. We can voice our differences at this stage without venting anger or becoming sad.
There is a lot of lesson to be learnt from this first initial steps and the concerns which it has raised.
I will be very worried about language such as other stakeholders will be brought in later. It is a strategy development meeting granted. But let us be under no illussions that we will alone draft the strategy for the radical transformation of Nigeria without other people external to us, whom Frantz Fanon has refered to as the wretched of the earth, and whom Karl Marx called the proletariat, and working people.
They are not other stakeholders. If we must use the term stakeholder at all, then they are indeed the main stakeholders. Unless we begin this journey conscious from the unset of our care taker status, we would be missing the point. And while such a movement might bring change even with popular support of the poor, it will remain a transformative change only for us, the emerging alternative elite, and not for the bulk of our peoples.
We should never discpunternance the voice of caution or dissent even if we disagree with their positions.
Regards,
Jaye
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi wrote:
From: Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
Subject: Attn: Kayode Re: [FOIcoalition] Progress Report ref. BUFFET LUNCH or PLATED LUNCH?
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Cc: "Sam Amadi", "FOI Dr. Otive Igbuzor" , "Abiola Afolabi"
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 12:03 PM
I think we need to constantly remind ourselves that this is a strategy meeting to lay the ground for a peoples' movement lets not put the cart before the horse. All Stakeholders will be involved but a meeting such as this is needed to firm out details.
More importantly Sam and Otive did ask people/members to give ideas and also volunteer to look for a venue I did not read all these suggestions on Universities etc until now when the hall has been booked, paid for and members are already subscribing to be at the event- why are we like this why??? I am deeply in search of an answer maybe some one on this list can tell my young mind why!
I hope all of this will not put sand in our garri!!! No Excuse please
Oyebisi
Shaking his head
Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
393 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, 11216 Apt 4, USA
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Kayode Ogundamisi wrote:
From: Kayode Ogundamisi
Subject: Re: [FOIcoalition] Progress Report ref. BUFFET LUNCH or PLATED LUNCH?
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Cc: "Sam Amadi", "FOI Dr. Otive Igbuzor" , "Abiola Afolabi"
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 11:44 AM
Dear all,
I just saw the menu list and I can't find Gbegiri and Ewedu. I will wait for the town hall meeting @ Mushin or Isheyin.
Kudos.
Che Gu vera will be grinnning with envy as the Cuban revolution did not have the luxury we now have.
"Yes we can"
But on a serious note, the prime emergence of menu lists on our agenda reveals exactly why we don't seem to get the seriousness of our most recent calling. I think Osita had raised it on this listserv that we need to start walking away from the elitism of the struggle.
Sir/ madam: couldn't someone find a hall at the University of Abuja to hold this inaugural meeting? Could we inform the student populace about it and let see if they will attend or not or better still let the authorities there deny us the use of the facilities. How can we make progress when we keep doing the same things all over again while expecting a different result?
If Obama was the inspiration here, could someone please read about how he moved from villages to towns and cities in Illinois and then the rest of America holding open air rallies?
How can we do this to ourselves? Why is everyone sycophantically signing up to be at Rockview Hotel, when the Nigerian people who really need to be mobilized don't live anywhere near there? If we are launching a revolutionary meeting, should n't we meet at some 'revolutionary place', for example on top of the Aso Rock (any climbers out there?). Accuse me of cynicism, but don't forget that nothing will and I mean nothing can come out of a poor response to poor leadership. Another jamboree in the series of jamborees that got us where we are now can't take us to the next level. Yes We can't!
Kayode Ogundamisi
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Against sectarianism
"Always bear in mind that people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children." - Amilcar Cabral
Dear Comrades,
With the salvos launched by Lade, Sankara and Femi Ibrahim, I am particularly addressing this message to those of those of us self-acclaimed socialists without the slightest of disrespect to all other compatriots that have heartily been part of the discourse on the laudable task we have set for ourselves vide the March 21 meeting.
My initial position was quite akin to Aturu's to disregard the posturings which I do very much consider as sectarian. On second thoughts since there are no guarantees in life, life itself not being guaranteed, I came to the conclusion that if perchance this effort fritters away (may the labour of our heroes past and the commitment we all seem to be gearing towards a revolutionary-democratic renaissance forbid it), such comrades of ours would most likely fold their hands and gloatingly quip; 'didn't we say so, the jamboree was just a ruse 'YES WE CAN'T', did we not say so? It is in this light that I now write.
I do agree with Jaye that the way we raise our concerns matter a lot. So does what those concerns are or amount to. I then ask myself, what concerns are to be found in this concerns of my friends and comrades? Are there really germain issues therein?
Sankara took a cynical stand, fair enough for him if in his view that is the apt stand for a revolutionary at this juncture. However, first if amala and gbegiri + holding meetings downtown constitute main criteria for being revolutionary, then the diseased alaafin of Molete ie Lamidi Adedibu would be the greatest revolutionary in our country's history. Second, even Marx would grin at the luxury Che had despite his (Marx) not entering the bush...just as those living in the global North amongst us would grin at taking a number of things considered as luxuries back home as given. Third,it is offensive to ascribe sycophancy to well meaning compatriots' support for the laudable idea of the meeting. Fourth, his 'yes we can't' slogan is determinedly nihilistic and an unfortunate demonstration of defeatist-pessimism which is as far away from Marxism as it is from Obamamania...or even farther.
Lade attempted a more serious engagement with the issues and quite importantly I must say had the courtesy of starting by commending the efforts on ground despite his reservations, so to speak. Unfortunately that does not make his position any more tenable. First, while I agree totally with the need for us to learn from the past we must ask ourselves why we had not adequately done this even before now. How many of the literature on the June 12 revolution for example has been written by leftists in the past ten years despite our roles in it? Should our self-imposed weaknesses/inadequacies in analysing the voyages in earlier storms become an excuse for furling our sails when fresh winds blow on the seas of real life? Could we rather not build in such learning into the rolling up of our sleeves now for new building of counter-hegemonic structures? Is it not trite Marxism that a single real movement is worth a thousand sterile programmes? Second, being inspired in one way or the other by events far away is not a particularly Nigerian 'problem', nor does it necessarily limit the extent of the inspired's movement. The French revolution was inspired in part at least by the American revolution....yet it went further than the former. Third; what is wrong with Abuja as a venue for such a meeting? Even if the meeting holds at Yobe or Yenegoa would he sincerely if he had been charged with organising a 'revolutionary meeting' have gone to the market place to call in all and sundry working people (of which the talakawas constitute a part) that he sees there for this kind of meeting? Was that how CD, DA, etc were formed? Rather than demeaning building leadership for a revolutionary process as 'elitism' we should not be unaware of the dialectical relationship between a strong partisan leadership and revolution from below. The implicit idea of market place strategizing especially at the inception of a project like this has nothing to do with Marxism-Leninism, being more akin to anarchistic thoughts at best and demagogic posturing at the worst. Of course I have condemned holding meetings meant for publicising/campaigning for rights issues at hotels where the opportunity cost of such lies in campaign materials that could have been produced with such funds, and more importantly where the venue cuts off the leadership from the mass. However in being firm on principles we have to be flexible in tactics, situating these in materiality of situations and not merely within the cerebral excellence of our grey cells. It is not as if there was an organisation that had been on ground (of the nature of what we are now collectively intent on constructing) that such money could have been used to print e.g. posters for mobilization. Elitist activism, must be combated without negating the involvement of elites as individuals that do subordinate their class position to the collective popular-democratic project, even where and when they choose not to commit class suicide. Such itself is a process, which is why an initial meeting at a venue between where we otherwise might think apt and where such persons (including a whole lot of us nowadays as 'NGO bureaucrats'!) would have craved for. As the effort unfolds (infact immediately there and then after the meeting as some have opined) we could and should start reclaiming the streets and the public squares. But we will be less than honest with ourselves if we say even then it is all meetings that must be at the market place. Fourth, perhaps the most uncharitable aspect of Lade's was the bogey of the 2011 voice of Jacob. After the Feb 21 -23, 2003, 3rd All-Nigeria Socialist Conference, a few of of our people said similar things only to eulogise Chima (the leading light in organising the Conference) to the high heavens after his untimely death. With the state of our movement today, the enthusiasm this initiative is raising and the challenges before us as a growing recession's monster rouses itself to begin unleashing beasts of uprisings that could head right or left, even if Lucifer, Satan and Devil were the ones summoning this meeting or behind it (not to talk of the fact that the credentials of the troika organising presently is anything but like that) we need to engage it from now to then and beyond March 21st.
I have little to say on Femi's position. I would have however appreciated any evidence whatsoever which buttresses his view that Carol's transparency had ulterior egoistic ends. It also is alien to the ideological position he identifies with to attend such a meeting out of curiosity or to be wondering about if or not a concept as been adopted. The forces of Marxism where in a minority when the First International was formed on September 28, 1864 in London. Karl Marx could not even attend until the subsequent meeting two years later in Geneva. But in a manner that respected their persons even while relentlessly canvassing for his theoretical conceptualizations as the basis for the International's practice, stemming from a realization of its necessity and not some obscure sense of curiosity, he engaged the Manzinists, the Chartists, Proudhonists, Blanquits, Bakuninists, etc.
The challenge in my view is as co-compatriots to shorn the toga of Nigeria or the revolution being our property more than that of any other genuinely concerned patriot and address the question at this point in time: what programme are we presenting towards collectively building a counter-hegemonic structure that could lead the masses of Nigeria to our self-emancipation and the social transformation of our country and society?
From Castro to Allende, Chavez to Lula, the Latin American revolution has not become a torch for all transformation seekers simply because these men and their organisations were/are socialist. Rather, it is because popular-democratic projects, counter-hegemonic structures and processes, drawing in, involving, engaging and respecting (without in the least for the 1st three at least, surrendering the redness of their partisan flags) a broad spectrum of patriots, democrats, committed men, women and youths like the dozens on this list serve who have yearned for and are arising to the clarion call for a renaissance of struggle that the opening of March 21st presents. I do not disagree with comrades raising issues, but where and when such could become de-mobilizational, resting on sectarian oars which implicitly or explicitly claim socialism as their basis, then such views need to be combated. I will also consider the defense of their right to such views (which formally speaking is not in itself wrong) as having more to do with Mill's liberal humanism than Marxist doctrines.
A revolution is actually a jamboree, a festival of the oppressed. We have spent too many years agonizing we should start organising towards this jamboree which blends structures and spontaneity. We should put sectarian belly-aching aside and transcend the condemnation (as against concrete analyses) of the concrete circumstances of our national realities (including of us and of others, though we tend to see the later clearer). As the Brazilian guerrilla leader , Marighella put it: "..under any theory and under any circumstance, the duty of the revolutionary is to make the revolution".
Revolutionary regards,
Ogbeni Baba Aye
Your skeptism or cynicism is not out of place. Who would just jump onto the bandwagon without looking carefully. But, if you have been following debates and conversations on this listserve you will realise that no one scripted this to work out this way. Many of the collaborators on this initiatives were interlocutors who disagreed on the way forward. I for one sounded pessimistic about FOI in Nigeria and argued that unless there is a political revolution of a sort, a revolution that brings the real people into ownership of politics there can be no context for transformative politics. You know better than I do on this point.
Omolade, you and I are products of the students' movement. We later joined the human rights movement and traveled out of the country to learn more. I am back to Nigeria and you are yet to return. I believe when you finish your study you will join us- the frustrated and dehumanized ex-that, ex-this. But, the point is that those who returned and those of you who constantly come home or remain in touch with home feel really embarrased and ashamed. I constantly remind myself that if I end up servicing this disempowerment of the Nigerian people then my studies and struggles are in vain. I believe most of people in this formation think the same.
Omolade, there is no doubt that we are not all saints and the change we dream is not easy. This is not another Obama-nostalgia. We can all decide to get inspired by history and determine our faith. Obama is a valuable inspiration. Obama is not the reason or the prototype.
we should not now begin to be demoralized and demobilized by ideas of hijack and fifth columnists. The point is if our commitment is strong and real and all the good and well-meaning people join we can then structure what we want. Two can't walk together except they agree.
Omolade, I agree that we should try as much as possible to live above board on this and take it to the people. Skepticism is allowed but demobilization is not allowed. We accept criticism to refine and restrategize. But, no bogey of 'we have seen it before' or 'watch out: there are fronts' will demobilize us. We will try our best.
Sam
Dr. Sam Amadi
Director, (Research& Programs)
Ken Nnamani Center for Leadership & Development
Abuja, Nigeria
234-803-329- 9879
From: Omolade Adunbi
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 4:05:58 PM
Subject: Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
Dear All
I commend those putting this together and I could see that some of the organizers are well intentioned but the question is: Is this a grand coalition of NGO bureaucrats who are suddenly inspired by the recent election of Barack Obama? If we are truly interested in forming a broad coalition that can challenge the "politrckians" for power, I think there are better ways of doing. First, we need to research why past coalitions failed to work. Having studied the pitfalls of the past, we can then project into the future. Part of our problem in Nigeria, particularly within civil society groups is that we like to jump into an ocean of ideas without first finding out how beneficial and relevant to our own situation such ideas might be. Therefore, without a proper understanding of our history, we might just be embarking on another wild goose chase. Let us first know where we are coming from before projecting into a new future.
My concern is that 2011 is around the corner and I could see many people in this listserve who are fronting for the so called politicians that are responsible for our current woes championing the idea of change. I am not convinced that the content of this current change is such that will benefit the greater number of Nigerians. We need a lot of convincing to do to show why key actors in the planning of this conference are not fronting for their former or current masters who were part of the pillaging of our commonwealth. Therefore, I am beginning to see this effort as something being put together by a distant hand using a familiar face within the broad civil society group. Wait a minute, we are planning a conference that will bring about change and Abuja is the best venue for it? How will the talakawas, the poor people we claim to represent that are spread across the nation be able to go to Abuja and reserve a room in a three, four or five star hotel? Can't we get a community hall or town hall somewhere to organize such a conference if we are truly interested in bringing about change in our country?
Finally, let us think seriously about our plans before we embark on another jamboree that will end up being a sloganeering effort. I am all for change but my own idea of change must be well thought-out, it must have form and meaning not just slogans because someone did it somewhere and succeeded. Thanks
Lade Adun
*************************************************************************************
To:
FOIcoalition@yahoogroups.com
Dear all,
I think we shouldn't shout anybody down for expressing view(s). I share Omolade's pessimism and would appreciate Sam's response than that of CA. I don't think I've met Sam; Jaye and Otive I know because we belong ideologically and my choice to attend was informed by the presence of these two Comrades and not because of Obama mentality- who becomes a President in an environments whose difference from that of Nigeria, is as far as the North Pole to south Pole. Secondly, I want to attend out of curiosity than because I believe in the kind of revolution CA is propagating. Majority of us (either within or outside Nigeria) know that Nigeria is a fail state (forget about Akuyili's re-branding) and we will prefer a more drastic solution. Our approaches are as multi dimensional as our looks, what the trio have done therefore as far as am concern is calling everybody for discussions. I don't believe that any concept has been adopted. If this true, then we should take serious exception to CA's comment on the payment for the Hall just because Omolade has a view that is asymmetrical to hers. I suppose this is not to be an elitist forum. Am reluctant to believe that the amount spent on the Hall was disclosed in the spirit of transparency by CA,but rather, that of ego. If we've not started a journey and someone is already robbing it on us, I think it is very unfortunate. Comrades I know from my involvement in the struggle picked the bills without much ado, ask Otive, Momoh, Chom, Lanre Arogundade etc...I would have been surprised if all of us should sleep and place our head in the same direction. If we want to lead we should accept to be rubbished and be willing to embed ideas.
I commend your efforts but I think we should accommodate various thoughts.
Regards as usual.
Femi Ibrahim
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, carol ajie
From: carol ajie
Subject: Re: Attn: Omolade Adunbi Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 11:52 AM
First I thank Oyebisi for his intervention.
Cynics said Obama couldnt do it, black man in a white house? he proved them long.
Please Oyebisi let us ask for where the fronts are located if we want readers to respect our criticisms or forever keep the peace of this struggle for change. It is cos we loathe distraction that Otive and Amadi and myself agreed to pay for Rock View venue from our pockets rather than bug patriots like Lade with contributions. You recall the FOI retreat that didnt hold, to pay for venue subscribers were told to contribute so we learnt from that and said this one will be differently run. As to committment, the only group we are committed to fronting for is the TALAKAWAS of the North & South. Yes progressives FRONT for them.
CA
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
From: Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
Subject: Attn: Omolade Adunbi Re: [FOIcoalition] On inputs into the Conference preparations
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 7:42 AM
Dear Lade,
Thanks for yours!
I have been following posts on the list and was expecting a reaction like yours however while they are valid I think you will be adding more value to the meeting by bringing in your experience on some of the points raised.
It will be good if you start an independent research (qualitative and quantitative) on the reasons why coalitions failed and also why CSO jump into the pool of ideas without first researching, our history and other issues mentioned by you and then bring the results to the meeting. Since the agenda is still being couched the organizers might be able to accomodate your presentation as I am sure they are aware of the importance of such studies.
Your note on fronts brings to mind the culture of mutual suspicion that we have within us. I am sure you know that for movements such as this enemies are also needed to provide their own input as this helps also in shapping the agenda. I find some tips useful in the 48 laws of power that I am reading at the moment where the author adviced that we make our enemies our friends and also give them posts with that they will remain loyal to us. While that may not be politically correct in the bank of ideas it is useful.
Fronts will always be in our midst how we manage them is what is more important.
Bringing the poor into the picture is good and we often use the poor to get our agenda's through as individuals and organizations. Please revert to the purpose of this meeting, I would think that the meeting is meant to first discuss and lay down the strategies and tactics for the change we need. You cant bring the poor to such meetings at this time subsequent meetings will be in the form of a town hall meeting with the people coming in as stakeholders notice that some members have also stated their readiness to regionalize this initiative.
Agreed the need for People mobilization is key but it has to be on a solid and well planned ideology, strategy and tactics.
Please advice the organizers concreately on your own idea of change so that they can include it in the concept of change in order to make it broad and rich.
Thanks again for your comments.
Oyebisi
Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
393 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, 11216 Apt 4, USA
*************************************************************************************
To:
FOIcoalition@yahoogroups.com
Dear All,
I think it is important for people to be able to raise ideas and points of concern at point in the course of the development of a process. Because people did not come up with suggestions earlier does not mean that they can not point out the limitations of choices that have then consequently been made.
But i also think that it is important that the way we also raise our concerns matter a lot too. We can voice our differences at this stage without venting anger or becoming sad.
There is a lot of lesson to be learnt from this first initial steps and the concerns which it has raised.
I will be very worried about language such as other stakeholders will be brought in later. It is a strategy development meeting granted. But let us be under no illussions that we will alone draft the strategy for the radical transformation of Nigeria without other people external to us, whom Frantz Fanon has refered to as the wretched of the earth, and whom Karl Marx called the proletariat, and working people.
They are not other stakeholders. If we must use the term stakeholder at all, then they are indeed the main stakeholders. Unless we begin this journey conscious from the unset of our care taker status, we would be missing the point. And while such a movement might bring change even with popular support of the poor, it will remain a transformative change only for us, the emerging alternative elite, and not for the bulk of our peoples.
We should never discpunternance the voice of caution or dissent even if we disagree with their positions.
Regards,
Jaye
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
From: Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
Subject: Attn: Kayode Re: [FOIcoalition] Progress Report ref. BUFFET LUNCH or PLATED LUNCH?
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Cc: "Sam Amadi"
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 12:03 PM
I think we need to constantly remind ourselves that this is a strategy meeting to lay the ground for a peoples' movement lets not put the cart before the horse. All Stakeholders will be involved but a meeting such as this is needed to firm out details.
More importantly Sam and Otive did ask people/members to give ideas and also volunteer to look for a venue I did not read all these suggestions on Universities etc until now when the hall has been booked, paid for and members are already subscribing to be at the event- why are we like this why??? I am deeply in search of an answer maybe some one on this list can tell my young mind why!
I hope all of this will not put sand in our garri!!! No Excuse please
Oyebisi
Shaking his head
Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi
393 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, 11216 Apt 4, USA
--- On Tue, 2/10/09, Kayode Ogundamisi
From: Kayode Ogundamisi
Subject: Re: [FOIcoalition] Progress Report ref. BUFFET LUNCH or PLATED LUNCH?
To: FOIcoalition@ yahoogroups. com
Cc: "Sam Amadi"
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 11:44 AM
Dear all,
I just saw the menu list and I can't find Gbegiri and Ewedu. I will wait for the town hall meeting @ Mushin or Isheyin.
Kudos.
Che Gu vera will be grinnning with envy as the Cuban revolution did not have the luxury we now have.
"Yes we can"
But on a serious note, the prime emergence of menu lists on our agenda reveals exactly why we don't seem to get the seriousness of our most recent calling. I think Osita had raised it on this listserv that we need to start walking away from the elitism of the struggle.
Sir/ madam: couldn't someone find a hall at the University of Abuja to hold this inaugural meeting? Could we inform the student populace about it and let see if they will attend or not or better still let the authorities there deny us the use of the facilities. How can we make progress when we keep doing the same things all over again while expecting a different result?
If Obama was the inspiration here, could someone please read about how he moved from villages to towns and cities in Illinois and then the rest of America holding open air rallies?
How can we do this to ourselves? Why is everyone sycophantically signing up to be at Rockview Hotel, when the Nigerian people who really need to be mobilized don't live anywhere near there? If we are launching a revolutionary meeting, should n't we meet at some 'revolutionary place', for example on top of the Aso Rock (any climbers out there?). Accuse me of cynicism, but don't forget that nothing will and I mean nothing can come out of a poor response to poor leadership. Another jamboree in the series of jamborees that got us where we are now can't take us to the next level. Yes We can't!
Kayode Ogundamisi
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Against sectarianism
"Always bear in mind that people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children." - Amilcar Cabral
Dear Comrades,
With the salvos launched by Lade, Sankara and Femi Ibrahim, I am particularly addressing this message to those of those of us self-acclaimed socialists without the slightest of disrespect to all other compatriots that have heartily been part of the discourse on the laudable task we have set for ourselves vide the March 21 meeting.
My initial position was quite akin to Aturu's to disregard the posturings which I do very much consider as sectarian. On second thoughts since there are no guarantees in life, life itself not being guaranteed, I came to the conclusion that if perchance this effort fritters away (may the labour of our heroes past and the commitment we all seem to be gearing towards a revolutionary-democratic renaissance forbid it), such comrades of ours would most likely fold their hands and gloatingly quip; 'didn't we say so, the jamboree was just a ruse 'YES WE CAN'T', did we not say so? It is in this light that I now write.
I do agree with Jaye that the way we raise our concerns matter a lot. So does what those concerns are or amount to. I then ask myself, what concerns are to be found in this concerns of my friends and comrades? Are there really germain issues therein?
Sankara took a cynical stand, fair enough for him if in his view that is the apt stand for a revolutionary at this juncture. However, first if amala and gbegiri + holding meetings downtown constitute main criteria for being revolutionary, then the diseased alaafin of Molete ie Lamidi Adedibu would be the greatest revolutionary in our country's history. Second, even Marx would grin at the luxury Che had despite his (Marx) not entering the bush...just as those living in the global North amongst us would grin at taking a number of things considered as luxuries back home as given. Third,it is offensive to ascribe sycophancy to well meaning compatriots' support for the laudable idea of the meeting. Fourth, his 'yes we can't' slogan is determinedly nihilistic and an unfortunate demonstration of defeatist-pessimism which is as far away from Marxism as it is from Obamamania...or even farther.
Lade attempted a more serious engagement with the issues and quite importantly I must say had the courtesy of starting by commending the efforts on ground despite his reservations, so to speak. Unfortunately that does not make his position any more tenable. First, while I agree totally with the need for us to learn from the past we must ask ourselves why we had not adequately done this even before now. How many of the literature on the June 12 revolution for example has been written by leftists in the past ten years despite our roles in it? Should our self-imposed weaknesses/inadequacies in analysing the voyages in earlier storms become an excuse for furling our sails when fresh winds blow on the seas of real life? Could we rather not build in such learning into the rolling up of our sleeves now for new building of counter-hegemonic structures? Is it not trite Marxism that a single real movement is worth a thousand sterile programmes? Second, being inspired in one way or the other by events far away is not a particularly Nigerian 'problem', nor does it necessarily limit the extent of the inspired's movement. The French revolution was inspired in part at least by the American revolution....yet it went further than the former. Third; what is wrong with Abuja as a venue for such a meeting? Even if the meeting holds at Yobe or Yenegoa would he sincerely if he had been charged with organising a 'revolutionary meeting' have gone to the market place to call in all and sundry working people (of which the talakawas constitute a part) that he sees there for this kind of meeting? Was that how CD, DA, etc were formed? Rather than demeaning building leadership for a revolutionary process as 'elitism' we should not be unaware of the dialectical relationship between a strong partisan leadership and revolution from below. The implicit idea of market place strategizing especially at the inception of a project like this has nothing to do with Marxism-Leninism, being more akin to anarchistic thoughts at best and demagogic posturing at the worst. Of course I have condemned holding meetings meant for publicising/campaigning for rights issues at hotels where the opportunity cost of such lies in campaign materials that could have been produced with such funds, and more importantly where the venue cuts off the leadership from the mass. However in being firm on principles we have to be flexible in tactics, situating these in materiality of situations and not merely within the cerebral excellence of our grey cells. It is not as if there was an organisation that had been on ground (of the nature of what we are now collectively intent on constructing) that such money could have been used to print e.g. posters for mobilization. Elitist activism, must be combated without negating the involvement of elites as individuals that do subordinate their class position to the collective popular-democratic project, even where and when they choose not to commit class suicide. Such itself is a process, which is why an initial meeting at a venue between where we otherwise might think apt and where such persons (including a whole lot of us nowadays as 'NGO bureaucrats'!) would have craved for. As the effort unfolds (infact immediately there and then after the meeting as some have opined) we could and should start reclaiming the streets and the public squares. But we will be less than honest with ourselves if we say even then it is all meetings that must be at the market place. Fourth, perhaps the most uncharitable aspect of Lade's was the bogey of the 2011 voice of Jacob. After the Feb 21 -23, 2003, 3rd All-Nigeria Socialist Conference, a few of of our people said similar things only to eulogise Chima (the leading light in organising the Conference) to the high heavens after his untimely death. With the state of our movement today, the enthusiasm this initiative is raising and the challenges before us as a growing recession's monster rouses itself to begin unleashing beasts of uprisings that could head right or left, even if Lucifer, Satan and Devil were the ones summoning this meeting or behind it (not to talk of the fact that the credentials of the troika organising presently is anything but like that) we need to engage it from now to then and beyond March 21st.
I have little to say on Femi's position. I would have however appreciated any evidence whatsoever which buttresses his view that Carol's transparency had ulterior egoistic ends. It also is alien to the ideological position he identifies with to attend such a meeting out of curiosity or to be wondering about if or not a concept as been adopted. The forces of Marxism where in a minority when the First International was formed on September 28, 1864 in London. Karl Marx could not even attend until the subsequent meeting two years later in Geneva. But in a manner that respected their persons even while relentlessly canvassing for his theoretical conceptualizations as the basis for the International's practice, stemming from a realization of its necessity and not some obscure sense of curiosity, he engaged the Manzinists, the Chartists, Proudhonists, Blanquits, Bakuninists, etc.
The challenge in my view is as co-compatriots to shorn the toga of Nigeria or the revolution being our property more than that of any other genuinely concerned patriot and address the question at this point in time: what programme are we presenting towards collectively building a counter-hegemonic structure that could lead the masses of Nigeria to our self-emancipation and the social transformation of our country and society?
From Castro to Allende, Chavez to Lula, the Latin American revolution has not become a torch for all transformation seekers simply because these men and their organisations were/are socialist. Rather, it is because popular-democratic projects, counter-hegemonic structures and processes, drawing in, involving, engaging and respecting (without in the least for the 1st three at least, surrendering the redness of their partisan flags) a broad spectrum of patriots, democrats, committed men, women and youths like the dozens on this list serve who have yearned for and are arising to the clarion call for a renaissance of struggle that the opening of March 21st presents. I do not disagree with comrades raising issues, but where and when such could become de-mobilizational, resting on sectarian oars which implicitly or explicitly claim socialism as their basis, then such views need to be combated. I will also consider the defense of their right to such views (which formally speaking is not in itself wrong) as having more to do with Mill's liberal humanism than Marxist doctrines.
A revolution is actually a jamboree, a festival of the oppressed. We have spent too many years agonizing we should start organising towards this jamboree which blends structures and spontaneity. We should put sectarian belly-aching aside and transcend the condemnation (as against concrete analyses) of the concrete circumstances of our national realities (including of us and of others, though we tend to see the later clearer). As the Brazilian guerrilla leader , Marighella put it: "..under any theory and under any circumstance, the duty of the revolutionary is to make the revolution".
Revolutionary regards,
Ogbeni Baba Aye
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