COALITION: THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD AN UNITED CAMPAIGN.

Ajegunle People's Movement
General meeting Sat. 21/7/2018

Ajegunle - Wednesday 22/8/2018 at the Nigerian Union of Teachers  (NUT) hall, Oregie Oja, Ajegunle. 

27 persons representing different group were in a leadership meeting to brainstorm on how to build an United Front in order to intensify and consolidate the campaign and resistances breaking out in Ajegunle over the issuance of crazy bills.

Organizations present at the meeting were Landlords and Tenants Association of Nigeria (LTAN), Ajegunle People's Movement (APM), Ajeromi Ifelodun United Interest for Justice (AJIF-UIJ), Orudu Community Association (OCA), Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Coalition for Affordable Regular Electricity (CARE), Alaba Ora-Mosafejo Association (AMA), Olodi Community Movement (OCM) etc.

Ojo Road Women Unite protest
rally at EkoDisco Marina 22/8/2018

Fundamental Issues on how to build the campaigns in the communities were collectively raised and clarifications on method was equally discussed. Importantly, the fact which wasn't opposed by any of the platform was on the question of mass sensitisation in the entire community. That the mass must be educated on the fundamentals and on why they should all unite in respective of boundary to resist disconnection and demand for free installation of Prepaid Metre.

Leaders of each group present were all in agreement fundamentally that Mass Sensitisation will help to intensify and consolidate the pocket of resistances breaking out in different communities. The agreement of laughing a campaign soonest doesn't met any dispute at the cause of the meeting. Every organizations duly represented were in the same page of reasoning further on how to advance the rhythm of the electricity campaigns.

Suggestions raised by various individuals said having this meeting continuously will help to intensify the level at which we can all go in building an United Front subsequently. That it will help to harmonize the campaign and possibly strengthen the movement generally size by size publicize the core demands over the illegality of the Eko Distribution Companies.

Landlords and Tenant Association of Nigeria
mega rally at Marina/Ikeja 14/8/2018

Others who spoke re-emphasized on the fact that as a lead way of building this United Front. The issue of solidarity support to any fighting community must be taken into consideration. Despite there wasn't a resolved way forward on the platform to use being it was the first meeting to be called by Coalition for Affordable Regular Electricity (CARE). However, the proposed resolution was that the resistance, pocket of struggle must be consolidated and also be intensify in all communities in respective of the area.

While this was noted at the meeting. Leaders of each group tentatively accord that the meeting should be rescheduled for next Wednesday 29 August, 2018 at the same venue: Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). Meanwhile, Raji (leader of the Alaba-Oro/Mosafejo Community Association) informed leaders of each group that there case is in court and it's  coming up September. Modalities shall be forwarded so groups can mobilize to solidarize with them at the court.

Alaba-Ora/Mosafejo Community Movement
general meeting 8/6/2018

At least for members of the  Coalition for Affordable Regular Electricity, this is a step forward in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area. It is a step that can possibly help to intensify the campaign not only in Ajegunle but other areas. It will help to reach out to as many people as possible especially the poor masses, who on their own have been trying to organize to resist the illegality of the Eko Distribution Company.

For CARE the ultimate goal is the re-nationalization of the power sector under the democratic control and management by the electricity workers and the consumers at large. This for CARE remain the only fundamental alternative the masses must identify with and also fight for. Without this, the power crises will continue to deepen, caused already by the failed policies of privatization the capitalist politicians of APC, PDP are largely responsible to. 

In the light of this, CARE want to huge all genuine fighters not to give up in the campaign. Perhaps see the need why a coalition of such nature can help to intensify the campaign in the Ajegunle community subsequently.

By
Fidel Davy
SLUMPHOTOS