By Sean Emery, Nigeria Solidarity Campaign

The ruling elite of Nigeria, faced with an enormous debt burden imposed by the imperialist IMF, has chosen to make the Nigerian working masses foot the bill. Its cost has been a 430% petrol price-hike, 30% inflation, and the government refusing to implement the national minimum wage of N70,000, only £37 per month!

If that weren’t enough, president Bola Tinubu’s administration plans on implementing a tax cut for big business, paired with a tax rise for working people! Aware of the growing anger of the Nigerian masses, the regime is clamping down on any dissent, now targeting Daniel Akande and numerous other activists involved in the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests that demanded an end to the government’s ongoing attacks on the working class.

These militants have been arrested and face trumped-up treason charges, which carry potential death sentences. International Socialist Alternative has launched the Nigeria Solidarity Campaign, organising protests and actions around the world alongside other groups to demand dropping the charges and freeing all #EndBadGovernance protesters. This pressure, both internationally and within Nigeria, has led to Daniel and other co-defendants being granted bail, however they have yet to be given a hearing to advocate their innocence.

Trials have been repeatedly scheduled and postponed, and every day the charges remain is another day that the regime can dangle the threat of execution over these protesters’ heads. This is to silence them and use them as an example to force the masses of Nigeria into submission in the face of continual attacks on their livelihood.

Workers must lead this fightback in Nigeria and internationally. The imperialist subjugation of Nigeria only enriches IMF robbers in Washington and their lackeys in the City of London – the same bloodsuckers that break our strikes, blame us for inflation, and threaten more austerity. A victory for Nigerian workers against the imperialists and their agents in Bola Tinubu’s regime would be a victory for all workers internationally. Likewise, these attacks on Nigerian protesters threaten all workers of the world. An injury to one is an injury to all!

Defending these protesters means our solidarity actions must expand. We call on all workers, trade unions, socialists and those interested in defending democratic rights to recognize the urgency of this fight, and to unite in struggle against this attack on protesters, especially as the Nigerian diaspora abroad faces intimidation by regime agents. With strength in numbers, we can encourage the broader Nigerian community to join the struggle!

We demand:

• Drop the charges on Daniel Akande, Adaramoye Michael, Angel Innocent, Mosiu Sodiq and all other #EndBadGovernance protesters! Down with the death penalty
• End Bola Tinubu’s persecution of journalists and activists!
• No austerity for working people! Reverse the fuel and electricity price-hikes! Implement the minimum wage and tie it to inflation!
• Cancel the IMF debt and make the imperialists pay!

Stay tuned for further action by following Nigeria Solidarity Campaign on Instagram! Contact us if you would like to work with us to defend protestors in Nigeria.