IBRAHIM MUHIMMAND MAIKARFI
The more Socialist Labour supporters we have available, the more chances of changing the courses of the lives of the workers and individuals in the community for the better.
The major challenges include:-
- Lack of awareness of the socialist movement among the labour leaders. Many union leaders are not aware of the differences between the left, right and centre. Many obtained labour unions leadership positions by chance. Or they were selected as compensation and recognition for commitments in different fields or because there was no one else who equaled their prowess or competency. Some lack the basic knowledge of even trade union activities.
- The dominance or perseverance of corruption in the lives of groups and individuals. This includes politicians collaborating with the labour movement and its leaders. These are persistent problems undermining trade union activities. Some leaders in the labour movement might be corrupt or represent government/employer. Some have reached positions of leadership with the influence of some groups or individuals. They then have to protect these interests. Others are there for personal aims and aggrandizement (largely to enrich themselves).
We are all aware that the effect of poverty places a key role in determining progress to achieve positive aims or otherwise. Serious work is needed to generate a focus among the union/labour leaders to fully understand the importance of integrity and what is needed to enshrine the principles of the socialist labour movement in our polity and the trade unions.
On the Labour Party and Peter Obi. His manifesto was not in line with the NLC’s Charter of Workers Demands. Similarly the NLC and the TUC support came too late to have much of an impact.
The full implementation of the principles of change and labour satisfaction can only come from unbridled, unalloyed and committed individuals holding radical political views. Generally speaking many people are now ready to face the challenge given the rise of people like Rabi’u Kwankwaso, Peter Obi, Sowore etc. They need to form a broad coalition to ensure success next time. But we then need to ensure that we control the politicians who are elected to avoid them moving to other parties or just implementing their individual manifestos rather than the manifesto of the party.
Over the course of time, we must push radicalised labour leaders to occupy very cogent and important seats and positions of power and influence in key government programs. This will increase the sensitisation of the public to developed leftist sentiments. Otherwise, things will continue to dwindle as politicians will continue to use labour leaders and dump them at every transition period and election.
