Baba Aye's

“A tale of two September 21s” was what first came to my mind as a title for this article (and I still see it as an alternative title). I intended to trace out the similarities and differences in the significance of two events, which in different ways affected the two main components of the labor movement in Nigeria. First was September 21, 1974, when internment led to the unity of the trade union movement . Despite repression, infiltration, self-serving momentary splits, and attempts at state incorporation, the spirit of unity that emerged that day has remained alive. The second was September 21, 2005, when the death of a leading revolutionary socialist and civil society activist inspired efforts at uniting the socialist movement . After five years during which the initiative atrophied, it became clear that it had failed. It was, however, probably the longest-running attempt at establishing an alliance of the left. There are lessons to draw from this understudied period of our re...

First, I wish to commend Social Action and AFRICMIL for initiating the annual “pro-democracy conference” series. I do believe, like many activists, that these conferences provide us opportunity to reflect on our collective past (in the struggle against military dictatorship) and present, towards enriching our perspectives on what is to be done, towards conquering the battle for democracy. It has thus within just a few years become probably the most important vehicle for inter-generational discourse on past, present and future of pro-democratic struggles in Nigeria. Such reflections which the discourse entails for us to draw lessons from our past and formulate ideas for our future battles, does naturally involve debates. And debates, particularly on our recent history would of course encompass (different) interpretations of what and what transpired and the significance of these. The 1 st conference which was held in 2018 was, I gathered, one which involved heated debates on what tra...

( Being the text of a media conference addressed by Comrade Baba Aye, National Convener of the United Action for Democracy on Saturday, September 19, 2015, to commemorate the 10th year annivesary of the martyrdom of Chima Ubani & Tunji Oyeleru, at the National Secretariat of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Ikeja Lagos) Chima Ubani at one of the anti-deregulation rallies, shortly before his death Sisters and brothers from the Fourth Estate of the Realm, comrades and compatriots, colleagues and friends, I welcome you all to this media conference on behalf of the National Coordinating Committee of the United Action for Democracy. We are here as part of the activities to commemorate a decade of the martyrdom of Chima Ubani and Tunji Oyeleru. Drawing from the inspiration of their lives and deaths, we are charged with raising the banner of working people’s struggle, for a better society, high. The two patriots died in an auto crash at Potiskum, ...