Comrade Abiodun Fidelista Aremu, a prominent figure in Nigeria's left-wing struggles, has passed away, leaving behind a legacy of resistance against military dictatorship and neocolonialism. In a heartfelt tribute, Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine recalls their shared battles and unbreakable camaraderie. Aremu's optimism and efforts to build socialist structures continue to inspire.
The passing of Comrade Abiodun Fidelista Aremu marks a profound loss for Nigeria's leftist movement. As described in a tribute by Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine, published in The Guardian Nigeria on November 3, 2025, Aremu stood out in his generation for fighting neocolonial forces and their local collaborators. Akhaine, a former General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy during military rule, highlights Aremu's unparalleled optimism amid the global decline of left forces.
Aremu sought to nurture new socialist ideals by establishing the Amilcar Cabral ideological school, where Akhaine taught at his invitation. He envisioned a Nigeria free from exploitation, sowing seeds for socialism's triumph. Their bond was forged in the trenches of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) against the military dictatorship in the 1990s. Akhaine recalls navigating dark alleys on the NADECO route, amid fears of the country descending into chaos like Mogadishu or Kigali.
Exile brought shared hardships: journeys through Accra, Ghana, sheltered by Rasta Kamuko in Nima, mingling with Liberian refugees fleeing civil wars. A tense interception between Atan and Owode on the Idiroko road saw Aremu risk his safety to accompany Akhaine during interrogation by military operatives. In 1999, after state agents raided Aremu's home, he sought refuge at Akhaine's in Dopemu; earlier, Akhaine had hidden at Aremu's Mushin abode in Lagos.
Global solidarity defined their activism. Akhaine remembers May Day in Havana, marching through the revolutionary square to salute Cuban workers against U.S. imperialism. They reflected on Cuba's endurance, quoting Nicanor Leon Cotayo’s Beleaguered Hope: “Neither our people nor the world will forget this, on which a powerful imperialist country initiated an economic war against a small free nation whose people prefer death to putting their chains back on.”
Domestically, they contributed to uniting socialists in Benin, alongside figures like Comrade Baba Omojola, Abayomi Ferreira, Jonathan Ihonde, and Festus Iyayi. Personal milestones intertwined: Aremu supported Akhaine at his wedding in Ososo and his mother's funeral. He also informed Akhaine of the sudden deaths of comrades Abiodun Kolawole and Cecilia, prompting a trip to Ekiti to honor them and commit to aiding their son’s education.
Akhaine finds solace in Che Guevara's words: “Whenever death may surprise us, let it be welcome if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.” He urges: “Dear Comrade, fight on. Aluta Continua!”