By Ayo Ayodele
The Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran labour leader and revolutionary activist, Comrade Abiodun Aremu (popularly known as Aremson).
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Rufus Olusesan, PERESSA described Aremu as an exceptional revolutionary, Pan-Africanist, and tireless defender of the working class whose entire life was devoted to the liberation of the oppressed and the pursuit of a socialist Nigeria.
“Throughout his lifetime, Comrade Aremu stood out as one of the finest pro-worker leaders in the history of the Nigerian labour movement,” the statement read. “From the dark days of military dictatorship to the fight against neo-liberal capitalist policies, he remained unbending and consistent.”
The union recalled Aremu’s collaborations with notable activists such as Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Segun Sango, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Baba Omojola, Chima Ubani, and Dipo Fashina, describing them as comrades-in-struggle who challenged tyranny and defended the rights of the working class.
PERESSA praised Aremu’s leadership roles in the Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) and the Joint Action Front (JAF), noting that his clarity of thought, humility, and courage inspired countless activists across Africa and beyond. “He was a bridge between the labour movement and the radical left — a man who gave intellectual and organizational depth to every struggle he joined,” the statement added.
Highlighting his internationalist outlook, the union said Aremu’s influence reached far beyond Nigeria, with his advocacy resonating in Cuba, Venezuela, South Africa, and the Caribbean.
PERESSA urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to use Aremu’s death as a rallying point for unity and renewed class struggle. “Let this painful loss serve as a wake-up call — to rekindle the fire of struggle, unite the working class under a clear socialist program, and build the movement that Comrade Aremu lived and died for,” it stated.
The association also called for collective support for Aremu’s family, emphasizing that he gave everything for humanity and should not be forgotten.
Quoting Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s famous phrase, “Demonstration of craze,” PERESSA noted that the continuing hardship under Nigeria’s capitalist system reinforces the urgency of the struggle Aremu championed.
“Farewell, Comrade — revolutionary, organizer, teacher, and comrade of the oppressed,” PERESSA concluded. “Your dream of a socialist Nigeria lives on, and your legacy shall forever inspire generations yet unborn.”