Baba Aye's

Introduction Twenty years ago, what has been described as “the freest and fairest elections” in the history of Nigeria, held on June 12, eleven days after it was annulled and for six years, the country was never the same again. Bashorun MKO Abiola, the June 12 "custodian" Diverse views have been expressed by different interest groups on what “June 12” symbolizes. We shall put in perspective the events, class interests and developments within those six years of struggle, from the world view of the working class, drawing lessons for our struggles today and our historic goal of social change. 1986-1992: Prelude to a revolution The 1985 palace coup which brought the General Babangida junta to power was welcomed by most Nigerians, due to the neo-fascist character of the Buhari-regime, which most Nigerians had expected a lot from after the corruption-ridden and visionless 4-years episode of the second republic. IBB, who once described himself as an evil genius, pro...

by Baba Aye “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both” – Benjamin Franklin President Jonathan has brought the “war on terror” to Nigeria by waging war on the people in the North East. Fighter jets, helicopters, armoured personnel carriers and thousands of soldiers have been deployed there to enforce a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, which he declared on May 14. The ongoing bombardment is supposedly in a bid to curtail the attacks of Boko Haram on lives and properties. This situation of de facto martial law has, and will result in a great number of deaths and thousands of people fleeing across the borders.  At the onset in May, it was near impossible to get much information from within the battle zone. But while the states still remain shut down, including mobile phones networks cut off, we are beginning to have inkling of the horrors of state emergency. Al Jazeera’s exclusiv...