NADECO blames corrupt political class over free fall of naira, backs labour union strike action

The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy group, has commemorated the killing of the Ogoni 9 minority rights activists on November 10, 1995, by General Sani Abacha regime.

NADECO USA in a statement signed by its executive director, Mr Lloyd Ukwu, also called on Nigerians at home and abroad to explore options for a liberation of the nation from its captors following the failure of the judiciary to properly address and redress the brazen criminality, unconstitutionality, violence and perfidy that hijacked the nation under the guise of 2023 elections.

It noted in the statement that in the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgement that validated state capture by known bad actors, anarchy appears to loom large in Nigeria with intra party violence in Rivers state amongst others.

NADECO further blamed the corrupt political class for causing massive depreciation of the naira which it said has devastated home businesses of Diaspora Nigerians who are unable to recover their investments due to significant foreign exchange losses.

The statement reads, “In commemoration of the unconstitutional state-murder of the Ogoni 9 minority rights activists on November 10, 1995, by a kangaroo court of the Gen. Abacha junta, we wish to state as follows:

“In light of the abysmal failure of the Nigerian legal system to appropriately address and redress the brazen criminality, unconstitutionality, violence and perfidy that hijacked the nation under the guise of 2023 elections, it is incumbent on all Nigerians at home and abroad to explore options for a liberation of the nation from its captors.

“Given the unprecedented 40% devaluation of the naira and oil price hike induced inflation, whose combined effect has impoverished Nigerian citizens of 80% of the naira’s purchasing power since the takeover of office by the new regime, Nigerians are suffering unspeakable hardship but the political misruling class is preoccupied with primitive acquisition of luxury cars and boats.

“In the aftermath of the dubious Supreme Court decision that legitimized state capture by known bad actors, anarchy looms large in Nigeria with intra party violence in Rivers state amongst others.

“Similarly, the week after, Labour leader Ajaero was ambushed, abducted and brutalized by security agents in Imo state alongside several journalists in repressive attacks reminiscent of Abacha’s brutal regime on Frank Kokori and other labour activists in the ‘90s.

“Media reports reveal that the CBN is paying $6.7 Billion of scarce forex to a consortium of banks who are then lending $7 Billion back to the Nigerian government in a manner similar to the Debt-buyback fraud scheme through which Atiku Bagudu helped Abacha loot the CBN (the same Bagudu is now Tinubu’s Budget Minister despite his money laundering asset forfeiture case which came up in US federal court just this week.)

“Further, the new regime seeks to attract Diaspora dollars despite falsely blaming Diaspora for the naira’s depreciation while denying us the right to vote and failing to meet oil production quota.

“Deeply unpopular and undemocratic judgments continue to thrust unelected persons on the populace, in Plateau state amongst others, leading to protests and disquiet unlike the courageous and epic judgment of Justice Dolapo Akinsanya who ruled against the military’s Interim National Government in the ‘90s

“The misguided actions and policies of the political misruling class causing massive depreciation of the naira has devastated home businesses of Diaspora Nigerians who are unable to recover their investments due to significant foreign exchange losses. In other words, Diaspora Nigerians are continuing victims of the mismanagement of Nigeria despite being abroad.

Therefore we resolve as follows:

“We endorse the proposed strike of the Nigerian labour Unions and call on all and sundry to peacefully shut down the corrupt system hurting them

“We call on Nigerians in Diaspora to mobilize for dollar remittance boycott of Nigeria to starve the misruling political class of forex for their vexatious conspicuous consumption.

“We encourage Nigerians to brace up for the necessary sacrifices that must be made to free themselves from the Nigerian penal colony while appreciating their courageous effort in the stolen elections.

“We caution political bad actors to desist from actions in forthcoming elections that will ignite the wrath of the populace.

“We recall that the execution of the Ogoni nine led to sanctions on Nigeria. However the Abacha regime introduced Diaspora Remittances which generated $4.5 Billion thus enabling his looting of equivalent amounts and circumventing sanctions. The Nigerian Diaspora, many of whom were forced abroad by misgovernance, now hold a key to impose sanctions on Nigeria even where western nations have compromised.

“Finally, we honour the memory of the unjustly state-assassinated Ogoni nine who remain a symbol of an evil state that rapes and kills it’s aggrieved citizens:

1. Ken Saro-Wiwa

2. Saturday Dobee

3. Nordu Eawo

4. Daniel Gbooko

5. Paul Levera

6. Felix Nuate

7. Baribor Bera

8. Barinem Kiobel

9. John Kpuine

“May the labors of our heroes past and present NEVER be in vain!

“Until Nigeria is Freed”

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