TheCable

The People’s Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M), a civil society organisation (CSO), says practising a socialist system of government is the solution to Nigeria’s problems.

A socialist system of government focuses on community ownership of public resources, rather than concentrating any percentage of it within the private sector.

Speaking on Tuesday at a media briefing and launch of the “campaign for socialist transformation of NIGERIA (CAST NIGERIA)”, Jaye Gaskia, TPAP-M secretary, said the country needs to make the right choices when electing leaders.

Gaskia said while the group supports Nigerians to make their choice in the 2023 elections, there are real alternatives on the ballot.

“As Nigeria observes the 62nd anniversary of its ‘flag’ independence from colonial subjugation, the same problems that bedevilled us as a nation last year, and previous years continue without any end in sight in fact things are getting from bad to worse,” he said.

“Political campaigns have started and the candidates of the political parties are up to their usual antics; making promises about the Eldorado that Nigeria would become if they are elected into office.

“But as evidenced by the state of the nation since flag independence till date, and more recently since the return of the civilian rule in 1999, the ruling class whether PDP, APP ANPP, AD, CPC, APGA, AC, ACN or APC have nothing to offer other than economic misery, insecurity, privatisation, etc.

“For instance, political parties concluded their primaries months ago, with the emergence of their candidates for respective offices. However, none of the major political parties or their presidential candidates has deemed it fit up till now to release or make available their respective manifestos for the election; even though all of them were aware of the INEC timetable, and knew that national campaigns were to kick off by the 28th of September, 2022.

“It is this kind of nonchalant attitude to the interests of the working masses that has brought us to our knees as a nation.

“It is on the strength of this premise that we make bold to submit that capitalism, capitalists, neoliberalism and imperialism have nothing to offer Nigerians and or humanity.

“Socialism is the way out of the quagmire and it is the solution to our problems. The People’s Alternative Political Movement (TPAP-M) would be using the period of this elections to make a case for socialism through the campaign for the Socialist Transformation of NIGERIA (CAST- NIGERIA).”

The group further said it will focus on sensitisation of Nigerians on the importance of making deliberate decision when it comes to electing quality leadership.

“We shall present the case against capitalism (and the disaster it has brought on us as a people), and make the case for socialism (and the potential benefits that a system based on and driven by the collective power of the working people can bring our way); and while doing so, we shall provide the evidence to persuade us on why we need to actively organise and mobilise to resist the hardships being imposed on us and embrace the socialist alternative (the system based on social justice, equity, equitable distribution of wealth, and equality in universal Access to opportunities and basic social services),” the group added.