The left in Nigerian politics and the struggle for socialism: 1945–1985

Abdulraheem, Tajudeen; Olukoshi, Adebayo

doi:10.1080/03056248608703700

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 13, Issue 37

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The left in Nigerian politics and the struggle for socialism: 1945–1985

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Author(s): Tajudeen Abdulraheem , Adebayo Olukoshi

Publication date (Print): December 1986

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

This paper is a brief historical overview of certain aspects of radical, Left‐wing politics in Nigeria in the 40 years between 1945 and 1985. It traces the origins, growth and nature of the radical struggle for some form of socialist transformation in the country and attempts to identify the strengths and weaknesses of some of the organisations that were established at various times since 1945 for the attainment of this goal. The myth that there is as yet no Left politics in Nigeria is false. By the end of the Second World War, when the nationalist struggle for independence attained its peak, radical activism both within and outside the trade union movement had started in earnest and has been growing since then, taking various forms, as the contradictions of the capitalist development process in Nigeria deepen. As politicians of all shades begin to gear themselves in readiness for the proposed transfer of power from the military government to civilians in 1990, the Nigerian Left can look back to a heritage, with both positive and negative aspects, which we attempt to pin‐point in the course of our discussion. The crucial question is how the positive aspects of that heritage can be harnessed and extended in order to advance the struggle for socialism and how the errors of the past are to be avoided in the run‐up to 1990.

Content

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): December 1986

Volume: 13

Issue: 37

Pages: 64-80

Article

Publisher ID: 8703700 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 13, No. 37, December 1986, pp. 64-80

DOI: 10.1080/03056248608703700

SO-VID: a97c2d99-315e-4b6b-8e19-b2469f28953f

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

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Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 56, Pages: 17

Selected Bibliography

Sklar R. L.. 1963. . Nigerian Political Parties . Princeton :
Okoye M.. 1979. . Storms on the Niger, and Lettert to Dr. Azikiwe . , Enugu FDP. .
Orizu N.. 1944. . Without Bitterness . New York :
1974. . Arthur Nwankwo Nigeria: The Challenge of Biafra . , Enugu. .
Madunagu E.. 1982. . Problems of Socialism . London :
Nnoli O.. 1978. . Ethnic Politics in Nigeria . , Enugu. .
Ademoyega W.. 1981. . Why We Struck . Ibadan :
Usman Y. B.. , ed. 1982. . Political Repression in Nigeria . , B.M.M.C.. .
1978. . For The Liberation of Nigeria . London :
L. Balogun Nigeria: Social Justice or Doom ( London no date)
Ibrahim R.. , ed. 1981. . The Example of Bala Mohammed . Zaria :
1949. . What is the Zikist Movement? . Lagos :
Essien‐Ibok A.. , ed. 1982. . Towards a Progressive Nigeria . Kano :
1983. . Political Assassination . Kano :
Babatope E.. 1986. . Nigeria: The Socialist Alternative . Benin :
1982. . A. B. Musa Struggle for Social Economic Change . Zaria :
Sachikonye L. M.. 1981. . State and Trade Unions in Nigeria. A Study of the Restructuring of the Nigerian Labour Congress M.I Sc. Thesis ABU . , Zairia. .
Uyilawa U.. 1983. . The Rise and Fall of the Zikist Movement 1946 to 50 .
Toyo Eskor. . 1985. . ‘An Open Letter to the Nigerian Left’. . ROAPE . , Vol. 32: April;: 85––89. .
Madunagu B. and E.. “The Immediate Political Problems: The Movement and the Vanguard in the Period of Transition’. ”. Edited by: Asikpo‐Essien. . p. 49––61. .
Ikoku S.G.. 1971. . ‘Neo‐Colonialism Versus the National‐Democratic State’. . Daily Times . , 2 June;
Traore Eno Edet. . 1982. . “‘Realists, Trotskyites and Anarchists’. ”. Lagos :
S. O. Arifalo , ‘The Rise and Fall of the Nigerian Youth Movement’ — University of Ife History Seminar Series , 1981/82
Muazzam Ibrahim. . 1982. . “‘The PRP‐lmoudu and the Politics of Realignment: A Call to march separately but strike together’. ”.
Yusuf Bangura , ‘Nationalism, Accumulation and Labour Subordination in Nigeria’ 1970–1978 mimeo — 1985
Eskor Toyo , ‘Lessons of Military Rule in Nigeria (Thesis) — mimeo, kano , 1980
Ikenna Nzimiro , ‘On being a Marxist: the Nigerian Marxist and the Nigerian Revolution (1945–1952) mimeo, Zaria , 1983
1982. . “Nigeria in Search of Ideology”. . Nigerian Statesman . , 2–12 October;
G. O. Olusanya ‘The Zikist Movement: A Study in Political Radicalism’ , 1945–50 in JMAS ( 1966 ) pp 323 – 33
Bola Mohammed Memorial Committee. . 1983. . “‘Class, Nationality and History in Nigeria’. ”. Zaria :
Musa Balarabe. . 1981. . ‘why they fear our forces of Democracy and Social progress’ .
Rimi Abubakar. . 1983. . “‘Why we are in N.P.P.’. ”. Zaira. .
1980. . “‘North/South dichotomy in Nigerian Politics’. ”. Ife. .
NEPU. . “‘Sawaba’. ”. Kano :
1955. . A. G. 1955 Summer School lectures . Ibadan :
1956. . A. G. 1956 Summer School Lectures . Ibadan :

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Sklar R. L.. 1963. . Nigerian Political Parties . Princeton :

[2] Okoye M.. 1979. . Storms on the Niger, and Lettert to Dr. Azikiwe . , Enugu FDP. .

[3] Orizu N.. 1944. . Without Bitterness . New York :

[4] 1974. . Arthur Nwankwo Nigeria: The Challenge of Biafra . , Enugu. .

[5] Madunagu E.. 1982. . Problems of Socialism . London :

[6] Nnoli O.. 1978. . Ethnic Politics in Nigeria . , Enugu. .

[7] Ademoyega W.. 1981. . Why We Struck . Ibadan :

[8] Usman Y. B.. , ed. 1982. . Political Repression in Nigeria . , B.M.M.C.. .

[9] 1978. . For The Liberation of Nigeria . London :

[10] L. Balogun Nigeria: Social Justice or Doom ( London no date)

[11] Ibrahim R.. , ed. 1981. . The Example of Bala Mohammed . Zaria :

[12] 1949. . What is the Zikist Movement? . Lagos :

[13] Essien‐Ibok A.. , ed. 1982. . Towards a Progressive Nigeria . Kano :

[14] 1983. . Political Assassination . Kano :

[15] Babatope E.. 1986. . Nigeria: The Socialist Alternative . Benin :

[16] 1982. . A. B. Musa Struggle for Social Economic Change . Zaria :

[17] Sachikonye L. M.. 1981. . State and Trade Unions in Nigeria. A Study of the Restructuring of the Nigerian Labour Congress M.I Sc. Thesis ABU . , Zairia. .

[18] Uyilawa U.. 1983. . The Rise and Fall of the Zikist Movement 1946 to 50 .

[19] Toyo Eskor. . 1985. . ‘An Open Letter to the Nigerian Left’. . ROAPE . , Vol. 32: April;: 85––89. .

[20] Madunagu B. and E.. “The Immediate Political Problems: The Movement and the Vanguard in the Period of Transition’. ”. Edited by: Asikpo‐Essien. . p. 49––61. .

[21] Ikoku S.G.. 1971. . ‘Neo‐Colonialism Versus the National‐Democratic State’. . Daily Times . , 2 June;

[22] Traore Eno Edet. . 1982. . “‘Realists, Trotskyites and Anarchists’. ”. Lagos :

[23] S. O. Arifalo , ‘The Rise and Fall of the Nigerian Youth Movement’ — University of Ife History Seminar Series , 1981/82

[24] Muazzam Ibrahim. . 1982. . “‘The PRP‐lmoudu and the Politics of Realignment: A Call to march separately but strike together’. ”.

[25] Yusuf Bangura , ‘Nationalism, Accumulation and Labour Subordination in Nigeria’ 1970–1978 mimeo — 1985

[26] Eskor Toyo , ‘Lessons of Military Rule in Nigeria (Thesis) — mimeo, kano , 1980

[27] Ikenna Nzimiro , ‘On being a Marxist: the Nigerian Marxist and the Nigerian Revolution (1945–1952) mimeo, Zaria , 1983

[28] 1982. . “Nigeria in Search of Ideology”. . Nigerian Statesman . , 2–12 October;

[29] G. O. Olusanya ‘The Zikist Movement: A Study in Political Radicalism’ , 1945–50 in JMAS ( 1966 ) pp 323 – 33

[30] Bola Mohammed Memorial Committee. . 1983. . “‘Class, Nationality and History in Nigeria’. ”. Zaria :

[31] Musa Balarabe. . 1981. . ‘why they fear our forces of Democracy and Social progress’ .

[32] Rimi Abubakar. . 1983. . “‘Why we are in N.P.P.’. ”. Zaira. .

[33] 1980. . “‘North/South dichotomy in Nigerian Politics’. ”. Ife. .

[34] NEPU. . “‘Sawaba’. ”. Kano :

[35] 1955. . A. G. 1955 Summer School lectures . Ibadan :

[36] 1956. . A. G. 1956 Summer School Lectures . Ibadan :

Review of African Political Economy

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