Nigeria

NIGERIA General Obasanjo has at last announced the lifting of the ban on politics' in Nigeria. At the same time he has dropped many hints that the army will be waiting in the wings to ntervene, should developments not please him. It is clear that this new democracy will be hedged around with all sorts of restrictions. Nevertheless, the opportunities for Nigerian socialists to fight for their politics will be greatly increased. What strategy they adopt must be of universal concern to revolutionaries; for Nigeria is, together with South Africa, the most economically and politically significant area of the entire continent. "Africa in Struggle" offers itself as a platform to all Nigerian socialists in the emerging discussion on the strategy of the Nigerian revolution. As a first step towards that we publish below 'The ZARIA DECLARATION', which was drawn up by the All Nigeria Socialist Conference of 1977. Although we have many differences with the approach of this document, we consider that it is of great importance to study and discuss it, for it represents the most advanced analysis and political strategy yet elaborated by Nigerian Socialists, and has the support of a vast number of socialist, cultural, women's, youth and trade union organisations. Forward to the Nigerian Socialist Revolution! A.I.S. ALL NIGERIA SOCIALIST CONFERENCE 1977 We have pleasure in forwarding to your press The Zaria Declaration adopted by the All-Nigeria. Socialists Conference, 977, which took place at Ahmadu Bello University on July 19, 30 and 31 1977, as a press release. The Declaration onstitutes a summary of the Conference's work. Baba Omojola (Secretary for the Preparatory Committee) THE ZARIA DECLARATION 'he All-Nigeria Socialists Conference 1977, sponsored by the Tigerian Patriotic Front and hosted by the Movement for rogressive Nigeria, Zaria, convened at Ahmadu Bello niversity on 29th and 30th July 1977. It was attended by socialists from all the states of Nigeria nd delegates from several people's, trade union and peasants rganisations. The Conference was convened in a situation of reat national expectations for a return to civil rule marked by lass aspirations for a democratic, just, progressive and nonkploitative regime. The Conference was held in an atmosphere E conviviality, frank debate and consensus on the major ational issues facing the country. The Conference debated papers on the present political tuation in the country and arrived at guidelines for its work id the work of socialist militants and mass leaders in the ruggle for a socialist and democratic Nigeria. Conference appointed three Commissions to examine ›litical, Economic and Social questions of the Nigerian ciety and its advance guard movement. The Reports of the ommissions were considered and their accepted Resolutions institute the basis for the Zaria Declaration. The following the declaration: THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY The Nigerian society is a neo-colonial, semi-feudal iderdeveloped economy going the capitalist way. The society is divided into exploiting classes and the exploited people. The exploiting classes are foreign capitalists, Nigerian capitalists, merchants, semi-teudal so-called natural rulers and elites, reactionary elements within the military and the bureaucracy. The exploited people are workers and peasants as well as others who live only by their toil. We, the people, will only liberate ourselves from our class oppressors and exploiters through a revolutionary transformation of our society into a scientific socialist and united country. Immediate Goal: In order to march to democracy and terminate exploitation of the people, we have to struggle to defeat imperialism and build a people's democratic state. Imperialism can only be defeated when the workers and peasants are in the vanguard of the national struggle for independence, democracy, progress and justice, and are guided by scientific socialist theory. In this struggle, however, patriotic chiefs, manufacturers, enlightened bureaucrats and members of the intelligentsia are potential allies of the masses to be mobilised. Whilst imperialism is the principal exploiter and enemy of the people, we cannot ignore its internal collaborators and hired agents who exist in the merchant, capitalist, bureaucratic, feudal, academic, military and other strata. Rather than extend and intensify democracy, these elements are constantly -redefining their techniques of terrorising the masses in order to consolidate their class hegemony. The decrees on strikes, prices. rents, students' militancy and indigenisation are examples of repression and exploitation of us. In our common struggle against our oppressors, the socialists must rally all potential allies that can be united with. The defeat of neo-colonialism and fascism by the people will lead to the establishment of a people's democratic state. In that state: i) the control of the organs of state power shall be in the hands of workers and peasants in collaboration with all progressive elements. il) the major objective of the state shall be to smash monopoly capital and neo-colonialism in all their forms. ili) the economy shall develop in a non exploitative, consciously planned direction within which collective and co-operative productive effort will be rewarded by a higher standard of living for all who work. iv) a programme genuinely to uplift the standard of life of all the people will be launched v) all remnants of autocratic or arbitrary rule shall be abolished. vi) solidarity with anti-apartheid and liberation movements in Southern Africa will be intensified. NIGERIA 250 mis Chad Niger CHAD Sokoto BORND KANO SOKOTO Maid uguri• Benin KADUNA Bauchi •iNaduna CRATCHE Minna Cameroon NIGER Yola• PLATEAU ABUJA GONGOLA KWARA LOYO * Makurdi BENUE ANAMBARA Lagosa ¡ LAGOSTIT BENDEL CROSS RIVER ONOD VERS 1958 Fernando Poo Gulf of Guinea $1 = NO.64 £1 = N1.20 Exports imports Trade Balance Crude Petroleum Cocoa Beans Cocoa products Groundnuts Palm kernels Palm kamal oil Palm oil Rubbar Cotton Tin metal Total exports 2. THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION Conference acknowledged the extent and intensity of socialist contributions to the political debates raging in Nigeria now, in spite of all obstacles. Conference reminds the nation that only socialism car solve the contradictions facing our people. Conference notes with satisfaction the rising level of political consciousness among our people as shown by their support for the Southern Africa Relief Fund and their revolutionary demands seen on the pages of newspapers, etc: In the current situation we call on the working class to rally and wage a struggle for the emergence of a democratic, united, principled, militant and class-conscious labour movement, able and willing to fulfil its historical mission of self emancipation. Conference considered the problems of the peasantry, the principal ally of the working class, and most neglected majority, as wanting of urgent and fundamental solution. The overall importance of the peasantry in the economy and society is of such magnitude that the social organisations among them deserve maximum assistance and service by socialist militants and youths. Conference considered exhaustively the present state of industrial relations in the country, was pained by government proscriptions, restrictions, bans, interventions and controls of the trade unions contrary to the International Labour Code to which this country is a party. Conference observed that government interference in the trade union movement has not resolved the intractable economic problems faced by the country but has aggravated the economic plight of the workers. Conference calls on the working class and their allies among the progressive classes and mass organisations to struggle for. an abrogation of all the decrees, orders and prohibitions that restrict their trade union rights to organise, form fronts, agitate for wage increases and go on strike. Conference denounced the present trade union policy of the government as a bankrupt, systematic move to demoralise, coerce, and destabilise the working class, and satisfy the multinationals, a move which we shall defeat. To this effect Conference accepts that this struggle for trade union freedom must be undertaken as an economic, social and political struggle in the interest of the entire working class. POPULATION: 76.6m (1976 estimate) RAȚE OF POPULATION GROWTH: 2.5% NUMBER OF STATES: 19 GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: N8,000m. (Estimate). CURRENCY: Naira (N) divided into 100 kabo. PER CAPITA INCOME: N120 (Estimate). EXTERNAL TRADE (million nairas). 1971 1,280.8 1,399.1 1,078.9 +214.5 PRINCIPAL EXPORTS (million nairas). Groundnut oil and cake Timber and plywood 1,078.9 1972 1973 1974 1975 2,278.0 5,762.0 5,246.0 995.0 1,224.0 1,715.0 3,629 +1,054.0 + 4,047.0 + 1,617.0 +417.1 6.6 5.6 0.2 7.4 0.6 5.0 8.0 995.0 2,278.0 5,672.0 4,270.0 union movement. 3. THE NEW ECONOMY i) The Present Economic System foreign and native capitalists. the imperialist owners of foreign monopoly capital has pervasive unemployment, etc. tragedies of the centuries of imperialist and capitalist iil The Trend while at the same time making grants to the British deteriorated so badly that Nigeria, although a largely the "Operation Feed the Nation"' notwithstanding. of social stagnation. 5 1976° 6,510- 5,0200 +1,490 1976° 5,1200 208.8° 4.07 24.00 13.60 1:40 12.50 5,784° Conference notes with satisfaction that Nigerian patriots have joined in our persistent call on the Federal Military Government to abrogate all decrees aimed at wrecking the trade Based upon an analysis of the problems faced by the vast majority of the Nigerian people, Conference concluded that: In spite of the illusions of oil boom and "mixed economy" Nigeria persists as a basically neo-colonialist, capitalist economy that is dependent on the international capitalist system. This has expanded the intensive exploitation of the masses by both The annual transfer of our national economic surplus by generated and sustained the underdevelopment of our country. The symptoms of this social backwardness include acute mass poverty, open starvation, rising prices, growing inequality, plundering of Nigeria, since the days of the trans-atlantic An alarming current trend of our national economy is the acute permanent shortage of essential goods and services which result directly from the basic fact that the distortions of the existing dependent capitalist economy constitutes the most important barriers to production for needs rather than for profits. The federal government plans to go borrowing abroad Commonwealth and other imperialist institutions, in addition to allowing transnational companies to transfer super-profits from Nigeria to Europe, Japan, USA, etc. The situation has agricultural country, is now a net importer of food products, A closely related problem is that the current strategy of industrialisation through import-substitution for technological transfer has only resulted in the mindiess accumulation of inappropriate luxuries and domestic gadgets with resultant sabotaging of the development of a technological culture. Indigenisation is basically irrelevant to these manifestations iti) Solutions For the rapid elimination of these serious problems, Nigeria should rapidly disengage from the international capitalist system by diverting its capital import, and aid relations from imperialist countries to socialist and progressive third world countries. This requires the immediate nationalisation with workers' management of all foreign enterprises; drastic co-operativisation of land to arrest agricultural stagnation; termination of over-dependence on foreign technology within a framework of a national technological revolution; a people's struggle to eliminate all forms of exploitation and social injustice; termination of irrational waste and of restoration of economie power to the masses of workers, peasants, youths, petty artisans, progressive professional people, etc., who should dominate the institutions of building a socialist economy as the basie organisational principle of a New People's Economy in Nigeria. iv) Social Organisation a) The Conference considered in detail the issue of social organisation and mass mobilisation for effecting the successful outcome of the people's struggle for a socialist society and decided that a fighting programme towards the total emancipation of the oppressed classes in Nigeria be evolved, guided by the science of revolutionary struggle, Marxism. b) The Conference accepted that all people's organisations and oppressed strata of the population must be organisationally strengthened in order to advance the struggle. c) In particular the Conference noted with satisfaction the presence of several representatives of women's organisations at our deliberations. Conference supports the just demands of Nigerian women for a representation on such bodies as the Constitution Drafting Committee and the Constituent Assembly. The government should make it its duty to facilitate the democratie election of progressive women into the Constituent Assembly. d) Conference welcomed our women to participate in all socialist educational programmes. (e) Conference acknowledged that the people's aims will not be realised unless we possess and control our own social institutions. Therefore Conference accepted that our struggles cannot be won without a socialist political party of the working class and peasants. The organisation of such a party as soon as the ban on political activities is lifted, is the cardinal task of all Nigerian socialists. (f) Conference resolved to set up a National Committee for the Propagation of Scientific Socialism among the masses. This Committee along with the Sponsors of All-Nigeria Socialists Conference among others, shall undertake to promote the spread of the socialist movement on all fronts and to expand the growth of militant trade unions, youth bodies and peasant movements throughout Nigeria; through the mass media, in factories, farms and the classrooms, etc. SUMMARY IN SUMMARY THIS CONFERENCE OF SOCIALISTS NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THE DIALECTICALLY ADVANCING LEVEL OF OUR PEOPLE'S PROTRACTED STRUGGLES AGAINST IGNORANCE, DEGRADATION, SUPERSTITION, FEUDALISM, WARS, IMPERIALISM; AND FOR TRUE INDEPENDENCE; AGAINST AUTOCRACY AND FASCISM, FOR DEMOCRACY; AGAINST NATIONAL BACKWARDNESS, FOR PROGRESS; AGAINST EXPLOITATION, FOR EMANCI- PATION: WE CALL ON THE PEOPLE TO INTENSIFY AND PERSEVERE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE OVERTHROW OF CAPITALISM AND FEUDALISM AND FOR THE SETTING UP OF A PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC STATE LEADING TO A SOCIALIST NIGERIA. WE REAFFIRM OUR FAITH IN OUR PEOPLE, AND PLEDGE OUR COMMITMENT TO A UNITED FRONT OF ALL OUR FORCES, IN OUR FORWARD MARCH TO A VICTORIOUS STRUGGLE. LONG LIVE A UNITED NIGERIA! LONG LIVE THE AFRICAN PEOPLES REVOLUTION!! VICTORY IS CERTAIN!!! 6 MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE ORGANISATIONS Patriotic Youth Movement Movement for Progressiv Nigeri New Age Club Nigeria Patriotic Front Nipafro Association of Nigerian Patriotic Writers and Artists Nigerian Socialist Movement Ibadan Nigerian Solidarity Youth Counci Young Toilers Brigades National Annies Bill of Rights Movement Abewa Women's Cultural Association Council for Social Justice Nigeria Afro-Asiar Solidarity Organisatio Cross River Youth Association Nigerian Tenants Association Nigerian Academy of Arts Sciences and Technologs Franz Fanon Research Institute Society for Progress Sa'ad Zungur Memoria School Nigeria Committee for South Africa JOURNALS Militants African Red Famil Mass Line Nigerascope Lagoon Echo Nigerian Vanguard Theory and Practice "FRONTS Vigerian-Soviet Friendshi nd Cultural Associatio • Nigeria-Cuba Friendship Society Nigeria-Angola Friendship Association Nigeria-Korea Peoples Friendship Society Nigeria-GDR Friendship •Society The trade union movement All-Nigeria Socialists MPD SECRETARIAT LOCATION Ibadan Zaria Maiduguri Benin Lagos Lagos Lagos Lagos Lagos Various London Kano Nsukka Lagos Ibadan Ibadan Lagos Lagos Lagos Lagos Lagos Lagos Woods Air Rails Works Docks Zaria Kano maru Usm ola Akinnu Rayat Bomer Lawal Kibadu J. I. Okenebor Chief Ajis 'unji. Osub Zinka Fayoku Aka Bashorut Abdullahi Aliu Dr. Akin Ojc Laoye Sanda rmstrong Ogbonr vuba Khadz . E. D. Essie lamman Yar Di. Omola Johnson B. R. Audi B. R. Gabar M. Akpan T. Adégbohungbe Ranmi Osobu Tanko Yakasai D. T. Inyang 5. Р. Екро Adenola Ajay B. S. Akagha Comrade Ola Oni Dr. Bade Onimode Olu Adebayo Pius Oleghe Lawal Kibadu Dr. I. J. Amony Hilary Arinze Prof. C: Ikoku Alhaji Yarima Bale Funso Akingbade R. Remy J. Alli Danko Professor Obiechina » Chinua Achebe Ebenezer Babatope Dx. Eskor Toyo Dr. Omafume Onoge Dr. Odugu Egbuna Dr. E. I. Obeke Dr. Sode Okoh S. G. Ikoku Dr. M. E. Kolagbodi M. A. O. Imoudi (no. 1) Obi Onwuemene Hudson Momodu Pascal Beyfu Chi Ibegwura Jonas Abam Mahmud Tukur Sidi A. Sirajo Dr. C. Anozie Dr. E. Ohiaeri T. O. Ananaba E. Madunagu Baba Oluwide M. Jibrilla Dr. M. T. Liman Dr. A. Kura M. Abubakar