Marxist – Leninists in Nigeria appear to be among the first set of the faithful across the world to announce a programme of commemoration of the centenary of the passing of Vladimir Lenin, “the man who led the first Socialist Revolution and thereby changed the course of human history”. They have fixed January 21-23, 2024 for the event in Abuja, Nigeria. It would be interesting to see what comes out of Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, South Africa and Ethiopia, to cite a few on the centenary, with particular reference to the title, problematisation and attention to post Cold War reflections on Marxism – Leninism, especially in the realm of strategy and tactics.
Comrade Owei Lakemfa who issued a statement on behalf of the Commemoration Committee in Nigeria described Lenin as the leader of the October 1917 Russian Revolution to which is attributed the transformation of the theory of Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels into practical politics as well as leading to the establishment of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, (USSR) and the formation of Central and Eastern Europe into the Eastern Bloc in contrast to the United States-led Western Bloc.
Lenin’s example, said Lakemfa, also led to the explosion of revolutions in the world including those in Vietnam, Kampuchea, North Korea, Laos, the Chinese Revolution led by Chairman Mao, the Castro-led Cuban Revolution, the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua and the Venezuelan Revolution led by Hugo Chavez.
And, in Africa, the defunct USSR which provided training, logistics, arms and funding, was crucial to the success of the liberation Movements and independence for Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, added the statement.
“Lenin, lawyer, theoretician, strategist, tactician and organiser was perhaps the greatest advocate of Working Peoples’ Power in the 20th Century and one of the greatest thinkers and intellectuals of that Century”, the statement also held, disclosing that the
Lenin International Conference in Nigeria with an International Advisory Board covering Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, will feature exhibitions and youth programmes. The conference will specifically examine Marxism-Leninism as a tool for analysing neo-liberalism, multilateralism, the rise of bodies like the BRICS, globalism and the contemporary world. It will examine why the Socialist Bloc collapsed and if Marxism-Leninism can be used to analyse, understand and tackle the current challenges of democracy and underdevelopment in Africa and whether it is still emancipatory and relevant today.
It would then go on to highlight the contributions of socialists in Nigeria such as the Zikist, Mokwugo Okoye, Labour Leader, Wahab Goodluck, Women Leader Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, intellectual, Ola Oni and Lawyer, Alao Aka-Bashorun. In the continent, the contributions of socialist leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Samora Machel, Agostinho Neto and Amilcar Cabral will equally be analysed.
Other issues the conference welcomes tackling are poverty, good governance, the Working Class and Popular Struggles, Africa and African Diaspora in the Americas, culture, arts, internationalism, colonialism and emancipation under the Conference theme: Lenin, Leninism, Africa and the World.
Those who may seek further information and enquiries about the event are advised to do so from Comrade Lakemfa, the Chair of the Lenin Centenary Coordinating Committee whose email is Lakemfaowei@yahoo.com. An alternative email is centenaryvil@gmail.com while the phone number is +2348023139151.
