A season of struggle to overcome despair -By Baba Aye

The United Action for Democracy salutes the courage and perseverance of Nigerians who have lived through this tumultuous year. We equally remember those martyred by the debilitating state of existence in the country, including the victims of the ongoing war in north eastern Nigeria.

We wish we could clearly wish all Nigerians a “happy new year” as is the tradition. Unfortunately, the signs do not point towards a year that will be a happy one for the majority of citizens, except we dare to seize our fate in our hands, in struggle. The impending austerity measures point towards a situation of worsening hardships. The drumbeats of deep seated conflicts accompanying the current electioneering processes at all levels also give grave cause for concern.

However, it is not for us to weep or agonise. The unfolding moment is one that calls for us to organise, organise and organise! It is only through struggle that we can overcome the state of hopelessness that the ruling elite in Nigeria is keen on throwing the immense majority of the country’s population into. If we rest on our oars, all hope is indeed lost. But if we dare to struggle, we dare to win.

We, the Nigerian people, must not allow ourselves to be fooled by politicians who seek to mobilise us around ethnic, religious and other mundane lines, when their sole aim is to retain or seize power. Our struggle in 2015 must be based on a concrete understanding of concrete reality with programmatic demands and mass action.

United Action for Democracy, as the pan-Nigerian coalition of pro-poor people civil society organisations, with a rich history of fighting against oppression and for democratisation that prioritises system change, will wage ceaseless struggle against austerity measures that could worsen the already excruciating burden of the working people, women and youth.

We will work closely with organisations of workers, the urban poor, exploited rural folks and other change-seeking Nigerians to ensure that we are not made to bear the brunt of the economic cataclysm which the bosses and their governments have plunged society into. We will also challenge any illusion that the “change” of six for half a dozen represents any real change. As a coalition of civic organisations, UAD is non-partisan. But we will not merely observe elections to audit how free, fair and transparent these are in possibly replacing one set of the ruling class with another.

A people united and determined, as the saying goes, cannot be defeated. There are clouds that could engender despair on the horizons of 2015. But there is equally cause for great hope. This hope lies in us, and our determination to fight for, and win system change, now!