CAPPA Mourns Comrade Biodun Aremu, Defender of the People and Builder of Movements

 

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Comrade Biodun Aremu, popularly known as Aremson, describing him as a tireless organiser, movement builder, and defender of the people whose life was dedicated to the pursuit of justice, democracy, and human rights.

In a statement signed by its Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA said Aremu’s death marks a profound loss not only to his family and comrades but also to every movement committed to the ideals of equality and accountability in Nigeria and beyond.

“Comrade Aremu lived and breathed struggle,” CAPPA said. “His consistency, courage, and clarity of purpose helped to shape Nigeria’s popular movement and to sustain the spirit of collective resistance through some of the most challenging times in our national life.”

As Secretary of the Joint Action Front (JAF), Aremu was a central figure in coordinating grassroots resistance and uniting diverse voices - workers, students, and communities - under a common banner of justice and people’s power. His organising skills and deep ideological grounding made him a bridge between generations of activists and a guiding force for many progressive coalitions.

Beyond JAF, Aremu’s leadership and vision extended across platforms that sought to bring together social movements, trade unions, and civic organisations around the shared goals of democracy and social transformation. CAPPA noted that he played a pivotal role in “building lasting spaces for political education, movement coordination, and people-centred action that continue to shape civic engagement in Nigeria.”

Aremu’s activism was not confined to local struggles. He saw Nigeria’s liberation as part of a global movement against oppression and corporate exploitation, a perspective that earned him international recognition. 

“He understood that the struggles of workers and the poor in Nigeria are inseparable from those of oppressed peoples everywhere,” CAPPA observed. 

“His solidarity was never symbolic — it was practical, principled, and deeply rooted in a belief in global justice.”

CAPPA also recalled Aremu’s unwavering support for its campaigns on corporate accountability, public services, and democracy. He was an early and vocal critic of corporate capture of essential services and strongly opposed the privatisation of public goods. His advocacy was instrumental in strengthening the Our Water, Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC), which mobilises against water privatisation across the continent.

“He reminded us always that water is not a product to be sold, but a right that belongs to every human being,” the statement said. “Comrade Aremu saw clearly how the same capitalist system that impoverishes workers also commodifies nature and life itself.”

Even in declining health, Aremu’s commitment to the movement never wavered. CAPPA said he continued to attend meetings, share ideas, and mentor younger activists, insisting that the struggle for justice was both a duty and a way of life. 

“He carried an unshakeable faith in the power of collective action and believed that no people are powerless once they recognise their strength in unity,” the group noted.

CAPPA described his death as a painful reminder of how much Nigeria owes to those who dedicate their lives to the cause of a better, fairer society. 

“But as we mourn, we also take courage in the enduring impact of his work,” the organisation stated. “Comrade Aremu’s legacy will continue to inspire every campaign for public ownership, accountability, and democracy.”

The statement concluded with a pledge to honour his memory through continued action. “We will keep fighting for the 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.”

Comrade Biodun Aremu’s life, CAPPA affirmed, was a testament to the power of conviction and the enduring relevance of people’s struggle. “Rest in power, Comrade Aremu,” it said. “Your struggle lives on in ours.”