TRIBUTE TO COMRADE ABIODUN AREMU: A LION OF CONVICTION, A SOLDIER OF THE PEOPLE
The news of the passing of Comrade Abiodun Aremu struck me and the entire leadership of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) with a deep and painful blow. It is not merely the departure of a man, but the fall of a titan, a relentless revolutionary who gave his all to the service of humanity, social justice, and the liberation of the working class.
Comrade Aremu was not a man of convenience; he was a man of conviction. He spoke truth to power with courage, clarity, and unwavering moral strength. He never compromised his principles, no matter how rough the road or how lonely the path. He believed, with every fiber of his being, that the struggle for a just, fair, and equitable society was not a choice, it was a duty. And he fulfilled that duty until his last breath.
In every sense, Comrade Abiodun Aremu was a conscience of the nation. He stood firmly with the oppressed, identified with the downtrodden, and championed the rights of workers and citizens against the tyranny of greed and exploitation. He was a patriot who understood that Nigeria could only find true greatness through justice and accountability.
His death leaves a gaping void, one that words can scarcely describe. The labour movement has lost a dependable ally, the people’s movement has lost a fearless voice, and the nation has lost a soul whose moral clarity illuminated our collective struggle.
But even in death, Comrade Aremu remains alive in the movement he helped to shape. His ideas, his example, and his courage will continue to guide and strengthen us. The best tribute we can pay to him is not in tears, but in renewed commitment, to continue the struggle for the society he envisioned: a Nigeria where justice reigns, where workers live with dignity, and where the oppressed are never silenced.
Farewell, Comrade Aremu, gallant soldier of conscience, fearless defender of justice, and unwavering comrade of the people. Your struggle lives on, and your legacy will not fade.
In eternal solidarity,
Comrade General N.A. Toro, PhD, mni
Secretary General