As Nigeria marks 26 years of civilian rule, two major grassroots movements—the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) and the Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM)—have issued a scathing indictment of the current administration, accusing it of authoritarianism, mass impoverishment, and betrayal of democratic principles.
In separate but aligned statements, both groups urged Nigerians to join nationwide protests slated for June 12 in response to what they described as worsening economic conditions, systemic injustice, and a rapid decline in civil liberties under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
CDWR, in a statement signed by its National Chairperson, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, condemned the government’s response to criticism, comparing it to the oppressive tactics of past military regimes. The group cited the ongoing prosecution of activists and bloggers as emblematic of democratic backsliding.
“Expectedly, the capitalist ruling elite are responding to legitimate complaints of the pauperised masses in a brutal manner through clampdown and suppression of democratic rights,” the statement read. “The current regime’s approach to dissent mirrors the tactics used under military dictatorship.”
The group warned that Nigeria’s so-called democracy has devolved into what it calls a “civilian dictatorship” that serves only the wealthy elite. CDWR accused political office holders of enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary Nigerians who continue to suffer under stagnant wages, crumbling public infrastructure, and a cost-of-living crisis.
“In place of public education and healthcare, looted public funds are used to fund elite access to private schools and hospitals,” CDWR said. “The working masses must rise to resist worsening living conditions and reclaim their rights.”
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM), in a separate statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Salako Kayode, echoed the call for mass mobilisation. It declared that the country’s political trajectory since the end of military rule in 1999 has brought little to celebrate.
“Despite the façade of democracy, the Nigerian people continue to suffer under the weight of poverty, inequality, insecurity, and oppression,” RSM stated.
Highlighting what it called a “state of national comatose,” RSM cited persistent security crises such as farmer-herder clashes, banditry, and Boko Haram insurgency. The group also decried what it described as an unprecedented rise in human rights violations under the Tinubu administration—citing data from the National Human Rights Commission indicating a jump from 1,147 violations in January 2024 to over 305,000 by September 2024.
“The excessive use of force by police during peaceful protests, criminalisation of dissent on social media, and harassment of journalists are all signs that this democracy is failing the people,” the group said.
Both CDWR and RSM called for an overhaul of Nigeria’s political and economic structures, advocating for a socialist alternative driven by the working class.
“The only solution is for the working people to take control of the country’s political and economic system,” CDWR asserted. “This so-called democracy protects only the rich while the poor are abandoned.”
They urged organisations such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to lend full support to the June 12 protest, describing it as a necessary first step in reclaiming true democracy for the Nigerian people.
“As long as injustice and anti-poor policies persist, the people must not relent,” RSM declared. “We call on all Nigerians to join this struggle to defeat capitalist exploitation and build a society that works for all—not just a few.”
About the Author
