The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) deeply mourns the passing of Comrade Biodun Aremu, a true people’s general, an organiser, and a lifelong advocate for social justice and democracy.
His death is not just a loss to his family and comrades but to every movement that believes in a fair and accountable society.
Comrade Aremu, popularly known as Aremson, lived and breathed struggle. His consistency and depth earned him several leadership roles that helped to shape the foundation of Nigeria’s popular movement. As Secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF), he provided coordination and clarity that kept the voices of workers, students, and communities united in resistance.
He also played a key role in setting up and strengthening platforms that brought together different social forces committed to justice and democracy. Through his work, he helped to build lasting spaces for organising, political education, and people-centred action.
His international outlook was clear in both thought and practice. It was guided by a belief that the struggle for liberation in Nigeria is tied to the struggles of oppressed peoples everywhere, a conviction that earned him global recognition for principled solidarity.
As Secretary of JAF, he embodied the true spirit of an organiser by rallying comrades, movements, trade unions, and coalitions to defend democracy and the rights of the people. He did this not only in moments of popular struggles but also through the quieter and painstaking work of meetings, education, and movement building beyond the barricades.
He was a strong supporter of CAPPA’s work, especially our campaigns for corporate accountability, public services, and democracy. He believed that people must hold both government and corporations accountable for their actions and that no company should profit at the expense of public welfare. His voice was clear and unwavering that the fight against inequality must include the fight against corporate capture of essential services.
Comrade Aremu also stood firmly with the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), our joint struggle to stop water privatisation in Lagos and across Africa. He often reminded us that water is not a product to be sold but a right that belongs to every human being. He saw clearly how the same capitalist system that impoverishes workers also commodifies nature and life itself. His solidarity gave strength to the coalition, and his words inspired courage in those resisting injustice.
Even when his health weakened in recent years, Comrade Aremu never stopped organising. He continued to attend meetings, share critical reflections, mentor younger activists, and challenge us to think and act boldly. He carried an undying faith in the power of collective struggle and believed that no people are powerless once they realise the strength in unity.
His passing is a painful reminder of how much the Nigerian state and people owe to those who have given their lives to the fight for a better society. But as we mourn, we also take courage in knowing that his legacy will continue to inspire every campaign for accountability, public ownership, and people’s power.
CAPPA stands in solidarity with his family, friends, comrades, and the broader civil society and labour movement across Nigeria and beyond. We honour his memory not only with words but with continued action. We will keep fighting for the same ideals that defined his life, a world where public goods remain public, where democracy serves the people, and where no one’s dignity is for sale.
Rest in power, Comrade Aremu. Your struggle lives on in ours.
Signed
Robert Egbe
Media and Communication Officer,
CAPPA
