By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has expressed support for the protest against insecurity and poverty organised today by The People’s Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M).
SPN also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mobilise its own 48-hour general strike and protest against insecurity and “anti-people policies” in the country.
A statement issued by acting SPN National Chairman Abiodun Bamigboye and National Secretary Chinedu Bosah reiterated that insecurity has attained a dangerous level as lives and property are under constant threat.
“Kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes are on the increase while the capitalist state and governments have woefully failed to respond to the crises,” SPN said.
“Increasingly, more Nigerians are condemned to [a] life of poverty and misery and many Nigerians have lost their jobs.
“We call on Labour to mobilise for a 48-hour general strike and mass protest against insecurity, growing poverty and all anti-people policies.
SPN urged working people and the public to join the protest and similar initiatives.
“Beyond the mass protest,” it added, “there is the need to build a pan Nigerian mass working peoples’ party to challenge and defeat the political parties (PDP, APC, APGA, etc) of the self-serving ruling elite.”
SPN implored the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to convene a conference of trade unions, “left-leaning political parties” and “pro-masses organisations like JAF” to begin the process of building a political party of the working people.
It insisted that “the profit-first capitalist system is responsible for the growing poverty and insecurity.
“The trade union movement and the working masses should be prepared to defeat the capitalist system and build a socialist system wherein resources, production and exchange will be planned to meet the needs of all.”
