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By Lukman Olabiyi
Prominent organisations and individuals, including the Cuban government, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, Joe Okei-Odumakin, Lanre Arogundade and others have paid glowing tributes to the late rights activist, Abiodun Aremu.
Aremu, who passed away on Sunday, October 12, was widely recognised for his unwavering commitment to the labour movement, social justice, and pan-African solidarity.
At a special event tagged “Celebrating the life of a steadfast people’s revolutionary: Day of Tribute for Fidelista Abiodun Aremu-Aremson”, organised to celebrate the deceased, all the participants described late Aremu as a fearless advocate for workers’ rights and a dedicated voice for the downtrodden.
The Cuban Embassy in Nigeria praised Aremu’s steadfast support for Cuba and his role in fostering solidarity between the Nigerian and Cuban peoples, especially in areas of anti-imperialist struggle and international cooperation.
The country’s condolence message was read and delivered by Femi Aborisade.
The NLC and TUC both described his death as a great loss to the labour movement in Nigeria and Africa at large.
According to them, Aremu’s contributions to labour policy, workers’ welfare, and democratic development will remain indelible.
Joint Action Front (JAF) in its tribute called on all activists, rights groups and organisations to recommit themselves to struggle to immortalise the deceased.
Other civil society groups and labour organisations also joined in celebrating Aremu’s life, calling for the continuation of his legacy through renewed commitment to justice, equity, and workers’ rights.
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The chairman of the event, Femi Falana (SAN), commended the late activist for his principled stance on national issues, adding that Aremu was “a true patriot who placed the interest of the people above personal gain.”
Falana disclosed that based on the pressure from the rights activists and civil society organisations, police had commenced investigation to unravel the mystery surrounding Aremu’s death.
Lamenting the circumstances that led to Aremu’s death, Falana said: “This is an irony for me, this is a human being, fighting for a good society, fighting for a just society so that everybody will have access to medical care, good education, and all the good things of life. Such a man who suffered stroke because of the crisis in the society, had to be killed by a hit-and-run driver. Whichever way you look at the facts and circumstances surrounding the unfortunate death of our comrade, you cannot but hold the Nigerian state responsible because of the way the police system in our country is organised.
“If anybody falls, if anybody is hit by a vehicle and you attempt to take the person to the hospital, for here, the first thing is, where is the police report? It got to a stage that people in Nigeria decided to take the law into.”
Executive Director, International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, described the late Aremu as a bridge between generations of activists.
He charged fellow rights activists to pick up the banner from the deceased dropped it, held that the struggle for a better nation must continue.
“Aremu was known for his ideological clarity, selfless service, and unwavering belief that a better Nigeria and Africa are possible through collective action and people-centred governance.
“His passing marks the end of an era of uncompromising activism rooted in integrity, discipline, and solidarity,” he said.
