By Abiodun OBA
Only SIX DAYS to September 28, the official date for candidates to kick-off political campaign in Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has threatened not to allow any political campaign till students of public universities return to classrooms.
The electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in line with its electoral program, announced September 28 as the official date for candidates to kick-start their campaigns in the country.
However, Chairman, NANS National Taskforce, Ojo Olumide, at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Wednesday, re-emphasized, “Our blocking of access to public roads and ports is just a warning. If the government fails to conclude all the negotiation and agreement with ASUU within the frame of two weeks, they will witness more protests and rallies all over the country, they will also witness the annoyance, anger and frustration of Nigerians Students who have been at home for the past seven months.
“As we promise them that we will not allow any political campaign to hold across the country until we are back to class. This government has pushed so many Nigerians students into depression. We say enough is enough; we can no longer bear the brunt from this avoidable crisis in our nation public ivory towers again”.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike since February 14, 2022 as talks between the Federal Government and lecturers of public universities broke down.
Recall that students had blocked access road to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as well as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Ibadan-Ife Road, causing pains to thousands of commuters and passengers.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called off the plan to obstruct vehicular traffic into Kaduna from Abuja to force Federal Government to end the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The umbrella body of the students association on Tuesday had earlier circulated a memo concerning its plan to mobilise students to block the Kaduna-Abuja highway at the Gonin-Gora end of the highway on Wednesday.
Briefing journalists in Kaduna, Chairman NANS Task Force on end ASUU strike, Comrade Dominic Philip, said the decision not to go ahead with the planned blockade of Abuja – Kaduna highway was arrived at after a series of meetings with security agencies and other important stakeholders within the State and beyond.
Philip further noted that security concerns were raised at the meetings with heads of DSS, the Police and Civil Defence who cited volatile and peculiar nature of Kaduna State where hoodlums could easily hijack peaceful protests to maim members of the public and loot property.
According to him: ”I must point out that our earlier decision was sheathed in the interest of the state , country and our people who may be victims of unforseen circumstances that may arise in event our good intention was abused by unscrupulous elements who do not mean well for our dear nation.
”We are however keeping our fingers crossed awaiting further instructions from our National leadership on next line of action.
”It is a sad and unbearable development having lost a whole academic session at home due to nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government to reach an amicable conclusion with ASUU to end its strike.
”Our politicians , policy makers and of course the elite have their children schooling in expensive institutions abroad.
”We’re therefore not surprised about their indifference to pay due attention to education of the masses who form the bulk of the Country’s population.
”The die is cast as we face another election cycle next year which will afford us a vantage opportunity to discard this crop of politicians who do not mean well for us.”
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