JUNE 12: OUR STRUGGLE NOT FOR HEROISM, BUT SYSTEM CHANGE — ACTIVISTS.
JUNE 12: OUR STRUGGLE NOT FOR HEROISM, BUT SYSTEM CHANGE — ACTIVISTS.
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Leadership of some Nigerians civil society activist have collectively concluded that the true heroes and heroines of June 12 were actually the unrecognized poor masses who religiously yielded the calls to stand against oppression, some of whom lost their lives in the cause of defending the June 12 mandate. “Our struggle as real activist is never for heroism, but system change, which is yet to be completely achieved”.
This was revealed in a communiqué as presented to newsmen by the Executive Director of Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak, at a symposium organised by the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) in collaboration with Centre For Economic and Human Right Agenda (CEHRA) and other Civil society groups held on 12th of June, 2018 on the theme: Popular Power and the struggle for internal Democracy —- 2019 in Focus, at the Lagos State Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yaba.
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“It was generally appreciated that the real heroes of democracy are those poor unknown and unrecognised people that died for protecting the mandate given to the late M. K. O Abiola who promised them total deliverance from the bondage of exploitation and oppression. Our ultimate target however to ensure this realities and that is the reason for this gathering. where we juxtapose the democracy we have with the realities of people’s lives.
The lead discussant to the theme was Dr. Muiz Banire followed by other contributors including Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak; Comrade Rasheed Raji, acting chairman of Campaign for Democracy; Yeye Owolabi Salis; Comrade Deji Adebowale of CEHRA; Comrade Rasak Olokooba of June 12 Vanguard; Bar. Titilope Akosa among others that include religious bodies e.t.c
The communiqué reads further:
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1. That a true democratic lifestyle demands direct participation of the people concerned.
2. Nigerian Society and their rulers are in the different Categories. Infidelity of those that dominate the political space is largely responsible for the present ordeal of the masses.
3. What we have in Nigeria is political platforms not political Parties. Political platform is identified as somewhere for anybody, good or bad. whereas a Political Party is streamlined along certain ideological base. Where people will decide based on their conviction, how the party is run, and not just anything imposed on them by anybody.
4. Direct participation format is identified as the democratic process we have constitutionally adopted in Nigeria, where popular participation should ordinarily be encouraged. This should naturally promote internal democracy which translate to the fact that all of us most determine our political platforms. However, present Nigeria reality reflect a political space devoid of Internal Democracy. On this we can conclude that what we have at present in Nigeria is not Democracy but Civil Rule.
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Problems faced by the people in a supposed Democratic setups is largely contributed by the people themselves. This is said to be due to the refusal of the people in popular participation in the electioneering process.
Though other problems are identified which include Poverty and Security which are deliberate tool towards subjugating the Masses.
With popular participation of people in electioneering processes, public accountability and recall process which are tools to hold our leaders accountable would be easily accessible.
Participation is electioneering processes goes beyond election, but monitoring the complete process of governance.
People should be encouraged to ask questions around governance.
Pension for former governors and deputy governors among other process of exploitations should be challenged.
Conclusively, it is the government that is supposed to fear the people in a true Democratic environment and not the people fearing the government.
