#June12Protest: A Defining Moment – Take the Struggle Forward!

#June12Protest: A Defining Moment – Take the Struggle Forward!

PRESS STATEMENT – 14th June 2021
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The massive nationwide and global turnout for the #June12Protest marks a milestone in the struggle against the regime’s tyranny and its utter inability to ensure a better life for the working people and youth. It is a demonstrated step forward, towards the revolutionary transformation of Nigeria.

This hugely successful wave of demonstrations came up on the heels of the government’s ban of Twitter and threats which were backed up on the streets with security forces armed to the teeth, with the aim of stopping the mass movement. It thus sends home a clear message that we will not be repressed, we will make our voices heard and we will fight for our total liberation, until victory is won.

Coalition for Revolution (CORE) seizes this opportunity to salute all members of its affiliates who made this historic moment happen. We equally commend the great Nigerian students who, in several states, defied the treacherous order of the pro-government secretariat of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to students’ unions to desist from joining our ranks on the streets.

The #June12Protest is not a passing moment, it is part of movement-building efforts of the Revolution Now campaign. We will take this struggle forward. Preparations to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the launch of the Revolution Now campaign on 5th August will immediately commence in earnest.

We take note of the concurrent demonstrations of separatist groups in countries such as Britain and the United States, calling for Oduduwa and Biafra republics. CORE makes bold to say we support the right of oppressed nationalities to self-determination. But we hasten to stress that the primary challenges which confront working-class people and youths of all ethnicities and across all regions in the country are social questions: exploitation; economic and physical insecurity including hunger, joblessness, kidnappings, senseless killings; and political repression by a rabid government.

To borrow from the memorable words of the immortal fighter, Chima Ubani “regime change is our stand, mass resistance is our vehicle, system change is our goal”. Our aim is not merely to kick out the Maj Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd)-led regime which has brought nothing but sorrow, tears, and blood to the poor masses. We fight – alongside workers, farmers, artisans, marginalised women, and youth – to implement the CORE Charter for Total Liberation. And we will not stop until we win our self-emancipation and build a better society for all.

Baba Aye
Co-convener

Gbenga Komolafe
Co-convener

Stop Recognizing A Usurper, AAC Tells Premium Times and IPAC, Says Sowore Is Party National Chairman

Stop Recognizing A Usurper, AAC Tells Premium Times and IPAC, Says Sowore Is Party National Chairman

The National Secretariat of African Action Congress (AAC) is seized by the circulation of an event flyer that addressed a certain Leonard Nzenwa as the National Chairman of the African Action Congress and listed same as a panelist in a forthcoming live webinar with the topic – ‘’Intra-Party Democracy in Nigeria: Challenges and Solutions.’’ (sic). We are shocked at such misinformation coming from one of the best in the corridors of investigative journalism in the country.

 

A cursory move on the official website of the party, aacparty.com would have saved the Premium Times this egregious error of offering its platform to a usurper who was expelled over very weighty allegations of FRAUD, STEALING, FORGERY, SABOTAGE, and ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES after being offered fair-hearing.

As a political party that engages with the principles of democracy as its guide, Leonard Nzenwa was issued a query letter on the 17th, January 2019, and was suspended pending investigation and his defense (https://aacparty.com/case-against-dr-leonard-ezenwa/).

Upon recommendations of a disciplinary committee set up by the National Working Committee of the party, he was expelled from the party. The AAC RETERIATES THAT THE SAID INDIVIDUAL, LEONARD NZENWA IS NO LONGER A MEMBER of the AFRICAN ACTION CONGRESS (AAC), let alone an executive at the national level. COMRADE OMOYELE SOWORE REMAINS THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY, ratified alongside other officers at the first and only Convention which held in Lagos on 6th, October 2018 in line with the provisions of Section 57 of the party’s constitution.

Among the many letters of the AAC expected to be in the archive of the Independent National Electoral Commission, is the most recent which was signed by members of the AAC National Executive Committee (NEC), received by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony in Abuja on the 28th of April 2021, demanding that the Commission rids itself of the perceived complicity in the protraction of this illegality and injustice done against our party’s internal democracy- a topic the PTCIJ aims to address in its programme.

“We demand forthwith that the said individual addressed in the said capacity be delisted as a Speaker at the event and that the flyer be taken out of circulation and/or a statement addressing the misinformation be issued by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ).

“We also use this medium to put the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on notice that it cannot continue to recognize a usurper if it aims to be regarded by the public as anything close to a democratic organization”. The African Action Congress said in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. ‘Femi Adeyeye.

 

 

History Will Be Cruel To Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Gbajabiamila, Others Over Their Position On Yoruba Nation

History Will Be Cruel To Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Gbajabiamila, Others Over Their Position On Yoruba Nation

The umbrella body for Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has criticised the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and other APC leaders in the South-West leaders for opposing “separatist agitations”.

SaharaReporters had reported that Tinubu and some other APC leaders in the South-West, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had opposed agitations for Yoruba Nation at a meeting on Sunday.

They however supported some of the resolutions made by the Southern Governors recently regarding open grazing and restructuring.

But Ilana Oodua through its spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye, told The PUNCH Newspaper that the decision made by the APC leaders was unfortunate.

The group headed by Prof Banji Akintoye also told the APC leaders that “history will not be kind to them” for “opposing the wish of the people”.

“People need to correct this. It is not secession. What we are fighting for is the self-determination right of our people as guaranteed by the United Nations Charter on Human rights and even the 1999 constitution.

“It is our right to fight for self-determination. Tinubu and others are entitled to their opinions. Conduct a poll and you will see that a majority of Yoruba people want their own nation.

“It is unfortunate that Chief Bisi Akande is present where the yearning and aspirations of Yoruba people will be denied. If his mentor, the late Chief Bola Ige – is alive, will Bisi Akande say the things he read out yesterday?

“If the likes of Tinubu, Baba Akande because of their ambition, Baba Akande are not careful, history will not be kind to them for standing against the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Without the people, they cannot be leaders,” he said.

Leaked Audio Captures Governor El-Rufai Planning To ‘Neutralise’ NLC Leaders, Protesters In Kaduna

Leaked Audio Captures Governor El-Rufai Planning To ‘Neutralise’ NLC Leaders, Protesters In Kaduna

A leaked audio tape has revealed one of the moments when Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State planned with his officials to frustrate the Nigeria Labour Congress protesters and “neutralize them.”

Nasir El-Rufai

The 16-minute audiotape, obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, was believably captured on Tuesday by one of El-Rufai’s kitchen cabinet members.

The audio captured the governor’s anger with the NLC.

El-Rufai and other voices in the tape were caught insinuating that the NLC leaders first camped in Kano State before they reached Kaduna and were mobilized from there by the Kano State government, making a veiled reference to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s officials.

In the tape, the governor was also briefed on the activities of alleged hired thugs and the plan to disrupt the peaceful protest on Wednesday and he was excited about the development.

They also discussed the police personnel whom they accused of giving protection to the NLC protesters and not siding with the state government.

“We pray they come out tomorrow, let them come out. We will mobilise,” one of those with him said.

Answering a phone call believably from the Minister of Transportation. Rotimi Amaechi, as captured in the tape, the governor said, “Oh Amaechi, excellency, how now? Oga sir, how are you doing? Hello, can you hear me?

“Oga sir, I may not be able to come today because I still have a situation on my hands. I think we will have neutralised them by tomorrow or next. I don’t know whether you are still in town.

“Give me today and tomorrow. Let’s plan for Thursday evening. Thursday afternoon, we will be in economic summit. It will be virtual but I will be busy. Thuraday evening will be fine.

“Politicians…nobody wants to confront the unions. I am the only North politician in Nigeria. This whole thing is being financed. They came from Kano right? They brought aides from Kano. They went to Kano.”

El-Rufai had accused his fellow governors of abandoning his administration in its crisis with the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The Punch reported that El-Rufai said this during a virtual meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Wednesday, May 19.

He also accused an unnamed governor of providing mobilisation funds for the NLC to destabilise the northwestern state.

Workers in the state workers had on Monday begun a five-day strike over  El-Rufai administration’s retrenchment of 45,000 workers and his alleged anti-labour policies.

Addressing fellow governors at the meeting, he said,  “I would like to inform the forum that one of our colleagues, a state governor actually gave the NLC money to come to Kaduna to do this because people think everything is politics. This is not politics. This is a monster that will consume all of us. It will not consume Kaduna I’m confident of that.”

When reminded that the NGF issued a statement from the office of the chairman on the subject, El-Rufai replied, “That press release with the greatest respect was unhelpful. It was unhelpful. It said nothing. It was trying to play both sides.”

SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that hoodlums reportedly loyal to El-Rufai disrupted the peaceful protest embarked upon by the NLC in Kaduna State.

The governor in a tweet had earlier said the labour union leaders were declared wanted for “economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure under Miscellaneous Offences Act.”

He said there would be a “handsome reward” for anyone who knows the whereabouts of the union leaders.

A source said while the protest was going on in Kaduna on Tuesday, some suspected thugs in different vehicles, started stoning the protesters.

The NLC later on Thursday ended the five-day warning strike.

 

Northern Youths Supports Southern Governors’ Ban On Open Grazing, Says It’s Threat To The North

Northern Youths Supports Southern Governors’ Ban On Open Grazing, Says It’s Threat To The North

Forty-two northern youth groups have endorsed the ban on open grazing in the country.


The northern youths disclosed this after its 27th delegates’ conference in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, on Saturday.

Southern governors had penultimate week issued a ban on open grazing in the Southern part of the country.

Addressing journalists in Yola, the National Chairman of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), Comrade Elliot Afiyo, also condemned the Minister Justice and Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, for his utterance on the ban on open grazing.

He said, “We have taken time to study the communique issued by the southern governors, especially on the ban on open grazing.

“We want to state clearly that open grazing has been the greatest threat to the environment of the northern region and also a major threat to the security of lives and property in the entire country.

“To the ban on open grazing, we call for the establishment of Herders Commission or Agency to cater to the needs of the herders.

“We also condemned the statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation on the ban on open grazing.

“We, therefore, appeal to the President to caution his ministers and aides who, despite being in government for six years, are still having opposition mentality.”

Afiyo also disclosed that NYLF would unveil its endorsed candidate for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023 on June 5, 2021.

IGP GENOCIDAL ORDER AGAINST IPOB/ESN: Police Officers Must Act According To Conscience and The Law – AAC

IGP GENOCIDAL ORDER AGAINST IPOB/ESN: Police Officers Must Act According To Conscience and The Law – AAC

IGP GENOCIDAL ORDER AGAINST IPOB/ESN: Police Officers Must Act According To Conscience and The Law – AAC
“IGP Usman Alkali-Bala has once again re-echoed the barbaric, lawless, and insane order that police officers in the South East must ignore the law, human rights and good sense by shooting at sight while raiding house-to-house for IPOB/ESN. We condemn this order as genocidal, extrajudicial and totally illegal. The Police cannot under any circumstance act as accuser, judge and executioner at the same time”. The African Action Congress said in its Press Statement,
“While the AAC condemns attacks against public institutions, we maintain that the Buhari dictatorship is to be blamed for the insecurity and anarchy that currently bedevils the country.
We are not oblivious of the fact that the agitation for secession; an inalienable right enshrined in known conventions has joined the litany of conversations in our polity and the Buhari regime is deliberately heating up the space so as to create excuse for its abdication of responsibilities of providing governance – security and welfare of the people.
As the social media is awash with credible videos of armed security agents shooting at civilians indiscriminately and turning young people into games. Against the unwarranted violence and genocide of the Nigerian state, the AAC stands in solidarity with every persons living in Southeastern Nigeria.
We maintain that it is the primary responsibility of government to secure lives and property of citizens regardless of which part of the country they live in- North or South. And in the case where there is a breakdown of law and order, the role of government is to take restorative measures within the confines of the law and universally recognized human rights.
People cannot continue to sing dirges and cry while members of the ruling class foment war and violence instead of addressing the fundamental issues that have led to the legitimate and lawful calls for secession.
Meanwhile, the people of IPOB and Oduduwa agitators are not the only group calling for an exit out of this Nigerian contraption, even Miyetti Allah recently announced a call for Fulani-exit.
Aside from the fact that the average Nigerian mentality has long seceded from this gulag we call a country, President Buhari, who in fact is the author of the socio-economic anarchy, no longer believes in the contraption he rules and has practically seceded from the country; the reason he tours the entire World even at the slightest flu.
AAC warns IGP Bala to call off his officers and act under the purview of the constitution. In the event that he turns fascist deaf ears to popular voices of reason, we urge rank and file officers to act only according to lawful orders. The Police need to understand that the anti-poor regime that has failed to provide them with adequate remunerations, training, and modern facilities and conditions of work is equally responsible for poverty, insecurity, and overwhelming socio-economic order that has made all of us victims of a rapacious and wicked Nigerian state.
While the AAC will continue to recognize and identify with rights to secession, we reiterate yet again, the need to bond and rise together as oppressed people across the North and South of Nigeria against this regime of anarchy, death and destruction.
Stop the genocide in the southeast!
Stop the war in Nigeria today!!
All oppressed people should unite and fight for #RevolutionNow
AAC Congratulates The #TakeItBack Movement Over the Election of Its National Officers

AAC Congratulates The #TakeItBack Movement Over the Election of Its National Officers

The African Action Congress congratulates the interim elected officers of the TakeItBack Movement. The AAC urges officers to continue the efforts already set in motion to reposition the movement for success.
“It is with great excitement the news of the election conducted to put in place an interim leadership to pilot the affairs of the global movement, TakeItBack, was received at the National Secretariat of the African Action Congress (AAC) on May 17, 2021.
“It could be recalled that a Structure Committee was put together post-election (2019 Nigeria general elections) and this committee has worked assiduously to come up with a document that highlights among a lot of things; the goals of the organization and the structure from the global level to the grassroots. We commend these sacrificial efforts.
“The AAC seizes this moment to congratulate all elected officers of this leadership and implore each to work in line with the adopted terms of reference which are:
– To pioneer the affairs of the movement democratically for the next 6 months.
– To work out the modalities that would be involved in putting in place a substantive leadership, which would then work in line with a globally adopted constitution.
“We reiterate that the AAC would continue to work with the TakeItBack movement as a partner in progress and development, towards taking back Nigeria and by extension Africa, from the claws of its wretched oppressors”. The party said in statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olorunfemi Adeyeye.
The elected officers and their positions:
Secretary-General:
Mr. Valentine Akaba
Deputy Secretary-General:
Mrs. Esther Oluyide
Financial Secretary:
Mr. Pius Omoregha
Treasurer:
Dr. Esther Ogunjimi
Welfare Director:
Mrs. Olatoun Williams
Director of Communications and PR:
Dr. Chidi Nwanyawu
Director Media/IT:
Mr. Davidson ArugbaJoye
Director Of Political Affairs:
Mr. Juwon Sanyaolu
Director of Legal Affairs:
Barr Larry Osagie
Director Of Mobilization:
Mr. Gbola Owoborode
Pantami: Block My Line, I Won’t Submit My NIN Data – Aisha Yesufu Dares FG.

Pantami: Block My Line, I Won’t Submit My NIN Data – Aisha Yesufu Dares FG.

Rights activist Aisha Yesufu has doubled down on her resolve not to link her mobile number to the National Identification Number (NIN), a project championed by Isa Pantami, Nigeria’s communications and digital economy minister.

Aisha Yesufu

Mr. Pantami has an unassailable link to extremism documented in print, audio, and video in which he demonstrated his avowed sympathy for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. He also described Boko Haram terrorists as his “Muslim brothers.”

On Friday, Ms. Yesufu stated that if it cost her not using a phone, she would not let her private data fall into the hands of terror-linked Mr. Pantami.

“Let me repeat categorically what I have said before,” said Ms. Yesufu, “I will not be linking my NIN to my phone number!”

Explaining why, she stated, “I will rather not have a phone line than willingly give my information and have it in the control of a terrorist sympathizer and his cohorts.”

Despite public opprobrium directed at Mr. Pantami over the damning revelations of his association with terrorists and murderous plots to wipe out unbelievers in Jos, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to back him.

Mr. Buhari had acknowledged that Mr. Pantami supported terrorist organizations and incited the Muslim communities against the Christians in the North through the declaration of jihad and fatwa but insisted that the “apology” of the minister was enough to heal the wounds and console the victims of his divisive past.

Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesman, had said the position of Buhari’s regime on the extremist views of Mr. Pantami would have been different if the communications minister was involved in a certificate forgery like ex-minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun.