Connect with us
The Peoples' Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), a political association, has called for the need to bridge the widening gap between rich and poor in Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement by Gaskia and Prof. Omotoye Olorode, members of the TPAP-M Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja.
The group said it would not let up in its effort to free Nigerians from the threat of growing inequality.
He said that as political parties ramp up campaigning ahead of the 2023 general election, he would continue to advocate for a system that would free Nigerians from the "shackles of rampaging capitalism."
He said that, in preparation for the elections, he would engage the candidates in public debates to learn their agenda for the masses, who had suffered from elite capitalism over the years.
The group urged media organizations to provide their platforms for interviews and shows, to advocate for a viable system in Nigeria.
TPAP-M said it launched a 50-member campaign organization on November 9 as part of efforts to advocate for the poor.
He said that the campaign organization, which would be chaired by Professor Omotoye Olorode, had nine committees.
According to the statement, some of the committees are Education and Research, Humanitarian, Social Intervention and Community Support.
Others, according to the statement, are the Public Sector Committee; Contact and Base Committee, Media and Public Communication Committee.
Meanwhile, the members of the organization are Mr. Jaye Gaskia, National Coordinator, National Spokesperson and President of the Public Sector; Mr. Okon Ekanem-Vice President, South.
Others are Hauwa Mustapha, Deputy National Coordinator and Deputy National Spokesperson and also Chairman of the Committee of Stakeholders of Socialist Transformation of Nigeria (CAST).
edited
Source Credit: NAN
The Peoples Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), says the prioritisation of profit over collective interest of the people has led to rising cost of living in Nigeria. Mr Jaye Gaskia, a member of the TPAP-M, who spoke on behalf of the Movement, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday. He said TPAP-M, a coalition of individuals and organisations committed to the transformation of Nigeria, was worried that the situation had put so much pressure on Nigerians. He said the ruling class was reponsible for the predicament, adding that “under their collective watch as a ruling class, profits were prioritised over the people. “In Nigeria today, living and surviving has become such a nearly impossible task. “Prices of basic necessities are soaring out of the reach of ordinary people. “The overwhelming majority of the working people and toiling masses are increasingly unable to access and afford basic services. ” He said many Nigerians were finding it difficult to access education, health, housing, transportation, and energy among others. “Since the inauguration of the Fourth Republic, things have been on a roller coaster of decline and the ‘rain started beating us’ a very long time ago. “The impact of the exploitative capitalist system on the people at home and globally has always resulted in ever-rising cost of living. ” Gaskia said Nigerians should vote wisely in the 2023 general elections, adding that the sanctity of the ballot should be protected at all cost. He said candidates and political parties should not overheat the polity by raising issues bothering on ethnicity and religion. Gaskia further said in view of this, the coalition would be challenging all political parties and candidates to debates on their programmes and manifestos. He said the engagement would help change the narrative from focus on politicians to the people in the forthcoming elections. He said it was high time Nigerians owned election processes, adding that the coalition would organise rallies and town hall meetings across the country in that regard. Gaskia said the coalition would continue to advocate a system based on social justice, equity, equitable distribution of wealth, and equality in universal access to opportunities and basic social services. He said the group was working toward registering a party that would be pro-masses after the 2023 electioneering activities. High point of the event was the unveiling of Campaign for Socialist Transformation of Nigeria (CAST-Nigeria). Prof. Omotoye Olorode another member of TPAP-M, said the coalition had been in the forefront in ensuring the welfare of workers across all sectors. He said the coalition would maintain its momentum in the forthcoming 2023 elections to ensure politicians were accountable to the people. NewsSourceCredit: NAN
A socio-political group, Campaign for Transformative Governance (CFTG), has urged Nigerian politicians to address issues bordering on citizens’ plights rather than lying to them during campaigns.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos after a two-day retreat on Wednesday, Mr Jaye Gaskia, the Convener of CFTG, said the group remained apolitical, but to educate electorate to vote individuals who would improve their conditions.
Gaskia said that the 2023 elections should be based on issues that have direct impacts on the lives of the people, hence the need for the electorate to be well educated.
According to him, this will also allow them to engage politicians before casting their votes.
“Our focus is to ensure that in the country we have a governance that is responsive to the needs of the ordinary people.
“A governance that addresses aspirations of citizens and not just aspirations of a few governance that is for the overwhelming majority and not for the few.
“Our immediate target right now is how to influence and mobilise Nigerian citizens to engage productively with the current electioneering campaigns in a manner that will influence the content of debates and conversations as well as the outcome of the elections.
“We want to shift things away from talking about a candidate’s ethnic origin and faith, but rather on capacity to deliver.
“We are basically looking at public service delivery in human security, healthcare, education, housing, energy, environment and transportation,” he said.
According to him, in the last two days, the campaign has been reviewing activities in the past and also projecting into the future.
The convener said that the campaign was aimed at ensuring access to public service delivery, human security and political education.
Gaskia said that a situation where there was massive unemployment, poverty and inflation increases the call for people to thoroughly interrogate political actors before making their choices in the 2023 elections.
“We want the citizens to engage political actors on the basis of informed background, equipped with information necessary for a choice that will be in their own interests,” he said.
Gaskia said that the group had been developing working people’s charter of engagements across the state and country which reflects the priority of citizens in a state.
“Our target is how do we go back to an economy that supports employment, job creation, and entrepreneurial development.
“As a campaign, we are going to engage political parties and political actors on these and ensure that we make them to commit to those issues.
“Once political actors commit to those issues, we will be there after the elections have been won and lost, to ensure those who emerge actually govern in the interest of the working people, ” he said.
Gaskia said that the composition of the group, which include trade unions, informal sector workers and CSOs all over the country would aid the political awareness.
According to him, the group has been organising its membership at the ward, local, senatorial district and state levels to increase political awareness and education.
Also speaking, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, General Secretary, Federation of Informal Workers Organisation of Nigeria (FIWON), said that most candidates had not been able to address issues bordering on the plights of the people.
Komolafe said, “When issues around employment, economy and others are not resolved, there will be increase in crimes.
“We want to see politicians we can align with on the bases of programmes.
We want the politicians to be accountable to the constitution of Nigeria.
”
NAN reports that the retreat had in attendance leaders from the Trade Union Congress, the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), FIWON and Pro-Labour CSOs drawn across the federation.
The theme of the retreat is: “Promoting Trade Union and CSO Collaboration in Protecting Democratic Civic Spaces in Fragile Democracies.
”
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
