|
06 May 2012 By Muttaqa Yushau Abdulra'uf This
article is in memory of ( Alh Abubakar Rimi former
governor of Old Kano State the first to declare May
day celebration in Nigeria in 1980s) The
Nigerian Workers are going to celebrate 2012 May Day
amidst new social contradictions; of corruption,
un-employment, insecurity, and de-industrialisation of
the economy. Beyond the rhetoric of the impact of
neo-liberal globalisation and the restructuring of
social relations of production globally, the role of
the Nigeria's elite towards development and
democratisation is dismal.
Historically the working class in Nigeria were in
alliances with the progressive forces in challenging
the excess of colonial exploitation. This tradition of
Social movement unionism which pertains to a link
between trade unions, communities and civil societies
is crucial in mitigating the exploitation and
kleptomaniac attitude of the Nigeria ruling class
under the People Democratic Party (PDP) The
current social contradiction facing Nigeria testifies
the fact that Nigeria ruling elite are incapable of
addressing the socio-economic problem facing Nigeria;
worst still is their lackadaisical attitude in
addressing corruption. The revelations of the House
committee on petroleum subsidy is a case in point, it
indicts big men and corporations who formed an unholy
alliance to bastardise Nigeria's economy.
Nigeria typifies Evans notion of "predatory state" and
Joseph "prebendal politics" both predatory and
prebendal politics entails the extent to which the
elites capture the state power and arrogate to
themselves the prerogative of sharing the proceeds of
national economies through patronages. Clientalism
defines social relations, in which the ruling elites
in concert with the business elite squander national
resources. The
working classes in Nigeria which is an embodiment of
all the oppressed should use the 2012 May Day
celebration on ponder on the critical social
contradictions that is about to cripple the nation.
The working class should strengthen alliances between
trade unions civil societies and communities to evolve
an alternative platform of political unionism to rival
the current bourgeoisie politics of self enrichment.
To do this we need a strong solidarity that will tame
with the obvious challenges of social fragmentations
among the alliance partners.
Nigerian needs a mass-based platform with which to
canvass for political power for social transformation.
It is pertinent for the Nigeria progressives to eschew
any piece meal reform initiated by the current failed
ruling elites through their accomodatory strategy of
appeasing the civil societies, what we need is
transformation. However not transformation canvassed
by Jonathan government, because his transformation is
an attempt to capture the working class vocabulary for
social deception. Is it
part of transformation that Nigeria has become
ungovernable? Is it also a transformation that
corruption is the prime priority of this
administration? To avoid confusion, the only
transformation Nigeria needs lies with the Nigeria
people whom have demonstrated their ability during the
fuel subsidy mass-protest across the country.
Unparallel in the Nigeria's History, the 2012
Mass-protest has unified Nigerians despite their
religious or ethnic inclination. The
Nigeria people should not be deceived by the recent
patriotic deception of some ethno-cultural groups
like, ACF in the north, those guys are accusing the
state of the state of the nation because they are not
in power, imagine! Some of them met at a farm in far
Niger state to proffer solutions of the problem they
have created for two decades through the abuse of
power. The
Nigeria project is a project to be led by the Nigeria
people against the Nigeria elites of whatever
colouration. It is not a project against PDP or
Jonathan, rather is a project of the oppressor Vs the
oppressed. In this project, the Nigeria working class
should endeavour to de-emphasise identity politics in
wake of the current social contradiction that is about
to consume all of us. The
working classes in Nigeria should go back to the
balance sheet of the January, 2012 Mass-protest, to
review the gains and shortfalls with a view to sustain
the Nigerians spirit of social transformation that
permeates, gender, class, ethnicity, religion and
other social strata. So that solidarity should be our
watch ward which the ruling class fear must. This
year Nigeria is marking centenary of Trade unionism,
since the formation of Nigeria's Civil Service Union
in 1912. With the current problems facing the wage
labour as a result of flexible labour regime ranging
from outsourcing, sub-contacting especially in the
private sector and various reform of downsizing in the
public sector, trade unions need to be more bold to
checkmate the labour rationalisation in the post-fordist
labour regime.
Finally, I hold the believe that, beyond the rhetoric
of neo-liberalism as the basis of Nigeria's social
contradictions, the role of the Nigeria's elite is
critical, they hold the state to ransom at the expense
of public goods. Therefore, Nigeria's working class
have to re-awaken and champion the struggle of genuine
transformation that the political elites in power
sung, which to me is a castle in the sky. |
Add Comments