Nigeria hangs on the fringes of total
political, social and economic collapse. This reality is premised on the
numerous challenges facing the country on all fronts. Politically, the internal
wrangling of the Nigerian political elite has left the country tilting
directionless, clearly heading for a major upheaval at best, and a state of
anarchy at worst. Socially, the failure of the political class to address long
standing issues of national identity and religious co existence has engendered
a low intensity religious war (howbeit from one section at the moment) which
daily exterminates innocent Nigerians just finding a way to survive in a
country where government has failed to provide the basic necessities including
security. Economically, a mixture of puerile policy directions and crass
corruption; spiced with a knack for pursuing tested and failed neo liberal
economic models inspired by discredited international financial institutions
and their collaborators; has destroyed the basis for economic vibrancy and
driven the vast majority way below the poverty line.
Fast marching towards 52 years of
independence, Nigeria has not made any significant progress in evolving a vibrant
political leadership, either institutionally or individually. On all indicators,
the ‘giant of Africa’ fares miserably at a time less endowed Countries are
clearly recording significant progress. The spate of corruption and economic
sabotage almost daily being revealed is an attestation to this fact. The wealth
of the state is wasted on the insatiable kleptomania of a corrupt, brigand and
inept ruling elite.
Fast marching towards 52 years of
independence, Nigeria has not made any significant progress towards building a
nation where all persons can count on the security of their lives despite which
part of the country they emanate from or which of the religions they subscribe
to. Years of neglect and contempt by the political class towards the sincere
calls by Nigerians for the convocation of a conference where the basis of the
continued existence of the country will be discussed in a civilized engagement
of citizens and stockholders, has engendered the current situation where armed
groups have taken the initiative, and redefined that same sovereignty which the
ruling class fears so much to discuss.
Fast marching towards 52 years of
independence, Nigerians are amongst the poorest people in the world. 70percent
of the population live on less than N160 a day, while 90percent exist on less
than N320 daily. The wealth of the nations has continued to fail to translate
into a fairer existence for the bulk of citizens.
For the majority of impoverished
Nigerians, who are at the receiving end of the failure of the state, Enough is
Enough!
It is on the basis of the above that the
United Action for Democracy calls on all Nigerians, workers, unemployed and the
unemployable to use the occasion of the Workers Day to demand the fulfilment of
their social contract with the Nigerian State. The UAD will continue to
mobilize its vast supporters and the majority of Nigerians through a series of
indefinite mass actions to demand justice and equity from the Nigerian state.
For the avoidance of doubt, the UAD still demands in the immediate;
·
THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND
FULL PUBLICATION OF THE REPORTS OF THE POWER SECTOR, FUEL SUBSIDY, PETROLEUM
SECTOR AND PENSION PROBES;
·
IMMEDIATE AND FULL
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FUEL SUBSIDY, POWER SECTOR AND PENSIONS PROBE REPORTS;
PROSECUTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THOSE IMPLICATED AND INDICTED. EXEMPLARY
PUNISHMENT TO GUILTY COMPANIES;
·
IMMEDIATE STEPS TAKEN TO
DETERMINE ACTUAL DAILY CONSUMPTION RATE FOR PETROL; ACTUAL DAILY PRODUCTION
CAPACITY FOR PETROL BY DOMESTIC REFINERIES; AND THEREFORE ACTUAL DAILY IMPORT
REQUIREMENT FOR PETROL. WITHOUT DETERMINING THESE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE FRAUD;
·
AND DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF A 24 MONTH STRATEGIC INTERVENTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE SELF
SUFFICIENCY IN DOMESTIC REFINING CAPACITY FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
·
AN END TO THE CALLOUS
MURDERS OF NIGERIANS IN THE NAME OF RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
UAD calls on all
organisations of citizens - religious, civic, trade unions, ethic
nationalities; to collaborate and jointly organise two days of mass rallies for
peace and development and against poverty and insecurity!
Furthermore UAD calls on ordinary Nigerians to come together and work towards
organising a popular mass political party on the platform of which to
collectively organise to retake our country from these league of looters!
The United Action for Democracy is resolved to
initiate another series of mass actions aimed at compelling the government to
do the right thing. We are bold to state that our country cannot keep groping
in the dark while a few with access to the coffers of the state steal it blind.
Jaye Gaskia
National Convener
Ken Henshaw
General Secretary
