AFTER JUNE 12: MIGHTY REPRESSION DEMANDS MIGHTY RESISTANCE FOR A FOURTH NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION By Ayo Ademiluyi Esq.

DAY 20 OF #ENDOPPRESSION 
13TH JUNE, 2021.

AFTER JUNE 12: MIGHTY REPRESSION DEMANDS MIGHTY RESISTANCE FOR A FOURTH NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION.

I condemn in its entirety the widespread repression unleashed on peaceful protesters by the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led regime during the course of June 12 protests in Abuja, Lagos, Calabar and many other parts of the country.

I put the entire blame on the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led regime, which took the shine off the "Democracy Day" celebrations, an holiday proclaimed by the regime itself with the climate of intimidation that saw many ordinary and working people sitting at home in defiance to the regime.

What was on display on Tuesday is re-enactment of days of jackboot military dictatorship, putting the entire "Democracy Day" celebrations into irony.

I commend the steadfastness of hundreds of youths and working class elements who turned out in defiance to the intimidation of the state.

I am of the firm view that the urgent task facing the entire movement is how to take forward the significant achievement of yesterday.

I submit that commencing from today, Sunday, 13th June, 2021 the Fourth National Week of Action should be set in motion. It will be recalled that pro-working people's organisations and fighting students' forces began the first National Week of Action of Workers, Students and Youth against Killings and Kidnappings on 24th May, 2021.

The Fourth National Week of Action commencing from today should have in focus series of action towards the climax of 20th June, 2021, the 9th Month Anniversary of the Lekki Massacre. 

We need to prioritize political education at this point. The educator must be educated. Today, Sunday, 13th June, 2021 should be used for political sensitisation through both virtual means such as TwitterSpace Discussion and Physical sensitisation. 

Equally, Churches like the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Deeper Life Bible Church that have openly stood up against #TwitterBan should utilise the Sunday Services of today to name a date for National Prayer Walks against Kidnappings, Killings and Attacks on Digital Rights, possibly for Sunday, 20th June, 2021.

Given that tomorrow, Monday, 14th June, 2021 has been declared a Public Holiday by the regime, it should be used as a Day of Celebration of the Pro-Democracy Struggle. It is in this light that I welcome the "ALUTA EXTRAVAGANZA" convened by the New Nigeria Network at her Secretariat at 185, Ikorodu Road, Palmgrove, Lagos by 12 noon. It will equally be a Virtual Party.

As from Tuesday, 15th June, 2021, with the resumption of Courts following suspension of nationwide industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), the Courts should be flooded with Court actions by brutalised protesters and public interest matters challenging the powers of Major General Muhammadu Buhari to ban Twitter.

The combination of direct and indirect struggles should be maintained up to 19th June, 2021 when the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Compensation for SARS-RELATED Abuses and Other Related Matters would be sitting over the Lekki Shooting Matter. As many #SoroSoke forces should mobilise to the Panel to demand justice for Victims of the Lekki Shooting, 9 months after.

I propose further that Saturday, 20th June, 2021 should be a National Vigil for Democracy and Justice to demand justice for Victims of the repression of the #EndSARS uprising.

It is in this sustained practical means that a grassroots mass movement can start taking shape. In addition, it is still important for the youth movement to appeal to the rank and file of the working class to join their younger class brothers and sisters at the barricades.

Deliberate and systematic efforts must be made to link up with the rank and file of the working class to lead them in a confrontation with the central labour bureaucracy that is holding back the mass movement of workers and youth by intentionally refusing to call a general strike which would have sent the despicable Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led regime to the dustbin of history by now. The failure of the central labour bureaucracy is rooted in its deep class collaborationism with the regime and the entire capitalist ruling elite.

A movement on the ground of rank and file working class and young people confronting the central labour bureaucracy with the demand for a 48 hours' general strike at the minimum can change the character of the current period in its entirety. It will instinctively raise the question of replacing the redundant labour bureaucracy without waiting for the next Quadrennial Delegates' Conference.

A general strike is not an ordinary event. It instinctively raises the question of political alternative. What is clearly posed in the coming period is how to resolve this urgent and sore question facing our movement. 

A struggle to open up the electoral space must be fought with the aim of building a genuine mass working people's political alternative. The road ahead is full of interesting possibilities.

AYO ADEMILUYI ESQ.,

Lagos.

09097933015.