Ijako, Ogun State – Thousands gathered at the residence of renowned socialist fighter and former labour and civil society leader, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, popularly known as Comrade Areemson, to pay their final respects as he was laid to rest at his home near Ijako Sugar Bus Stop, along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway. Comrade Aremu, who dedicated his life to pro-democracy and workers’ rights struggles, passed away on the evening of October 12 at the age of 63, following a fatal hit-and-run incident near his Ota, Ogun State home.
The burial was preceded by an emotional lying-in-state ceremony at his residence, featuring a two-hour session of funeral orations and family tributes.
A day earlier, the activist community organised large tribute sessions in both Lagos and Abuja, celebrating a life devoted to freedom and democracy. Prominent figures in attendance and offering tributes included leading human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who chaired the Lagos session, former Senator Shehu Sani, media rights activist Lanre Arogundade, as well as representatives from mass organisations, labour unions, pro-democracy groups, human rights bodies, and even the Cuban and Venezuelan Embassies.
A Champion of Workers’ Rights
Comrade Aremu was a well-known figure, having served notably as the secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF), a prominent coalition of pro-labour civil society groups advocating for democratic reforms and workers’ rights. He was also a former secretary of the Labour and Civil Society Coalition and a respected student union leader during his time at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
President Bola Tinubu also paid a glowing tribute to the late activist, describing him as a “committed fighter” who devoted his time, energy, and resources to empowering Nigerian workers and enhancing their rights.”He was a courageous comrade who remained steadfast in his beliefs and never wavered in his defence of the oppressed,” the President stated. “Aremu was a teacher, an organiser, a conscience of the people. He shaped minds and inspired generations of Nigerians on integrity, justice and patriotism.”
The President extended his condolences to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the broader civil society community for the loss of “one of their most consistent partners” in the quest for a better life for all workers.
