The President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Yinka Gbadebo, has denied claims that the group wanted to mobilize its members against the federal government over the prolonged strike by university lecturers.
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Gbadebo gave the clarification in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital recently, adding that NANS has not, at any time, taken any official position and neither does anybody possess any authority to speak on behalf of the association. Referring to earlier statements by some officers of the association that threatened fire against the federal government after an expiration of 14 days ultimatum, Gbadebo said such message was master minded by some disgruntled elements that reap benefits from crisis.
He expressed surprise that such statement could be issued by some officers at a time when the association was still mourning the passage of the late NANS Senate President, Donald Onukaogu and four others who died in an auto crash, at the heat of the University of Uyo crisis.
Gbadebo explained that NANS constitution only authorises the President and the Public Relations Officer to make statements on behalf of the association, stressing that such statements must be after due consultation.
On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Gbadebo observed that the position of NANS remains the same, as he made a renewed call to ASUU to return to classes in the interest of their students. He urged the union to call off the action and resume negotiation with the government towards a permanent solution to its agitations. “The myriads of problems in the education sector require all stakeholders to come together and articulate a common demand.
A situation where one union shuts the entire education system is not only counter-productive but unhealthy in the face of global competitiveness,” he said. Gbadebo warned the lecturers against keeping students at home longer than necessary, noting that such act portends a great danger to their future. He also frowned at the federal government poor commitment to educational development.
“NANS does believe that ASUU has the interest of students at heart. The sincerity of ASUU over the years has been critically evaluated as it’s been noted that while hiding under the cover of making demands for educational development, ASUU has rather been concerned with their personal welfare. And once government fulfils this they down tools,” he said.
NANS called on ASUU to look beyond transient benefits and pursue the cause to the benefit of all. “We frown at ASUU for usually neglecting students but only calling on us to support them via protests and press statements whenever they are on strike. Where has ASUU been when student leaders are victimised by various lecturers?
Where has ASUU been when our female students are continually intimidated and sexually harassed by randy lecturers? ASUU needs to sit up,” he said. Gbadebo urged government at all levels to find lasting solution to the insurgency in the north.
He said that the huge government spending on defence and the unabated terror of Boko Haram has shown that only economic justice can permanently resolve the Boko Haram menace.
He, however, condemned the terror group, saying that they are employing the wrong approach to resolving the problems of the country, as killing innocent citizens would only aggravate the nation’s problem. He advised President Goodluck Jonathan to act as the father of the nation, by calling on actors in the Rivers State crisis to sheathe their sword for the interest of the nation’s democracy. Akinola is a 400 level, Political Science, OAU, Ile-Ife
By DHIKRU AKINOLA
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