Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that given the peculiar situation in the country, there is no alternative to President Muhammadu Buhari or his leadership style.
The former President stated this on Saturday when a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by the Vice – President, Ogunkunade Oluwatoyin, visted him at his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Obasanjonnurged Nigerians to support Buhari to bring about the desired “change” in the country.
Obasanjo noted that a lot of things that were left undone in the last six years, are hurting the country today but said there is a ray hope in the government of President Buhari that the expected change for the better would happen in the country.
Obasanjo who was a former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) before quitting party politics early this year, said he stuck out his neck for change during the last general elections because things were no longer going the way it ought to be for the country.
The former President spoke in response to the demands of the students on fighting corruption, security, economy, unemployment and improvement in the standard of eduction.
He noted that God loves Nigeria and that he would continue to support and pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.
Tag: NANS
-
There’a no alternative to Buhari now – Obasanjo
-
NANS to EFCC: Be fair in NAFDAC D-G’s prob
President, National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Tijani Usman Sheu, has said the investigation of the Director-General of National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration (NAFDAC), Mr. Paul Orhii, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should be devoid of bias or politics.
At a news conference in Lagos, Sheu dissociated the union from a protest by some students, claiming to be NANS representatives, staged against the NAFDAC chief at the EFCC office in Ikoyi.
The NANS President said the union is not against the probe of the NAFDAC helmsman or any other agency but cautioned that the exercise should not be politicised.
He advised those he described as unscrupulous elements not to drag the union into the probe.
Sheu said NANS did not contemplated or decide to protest against either the NAFDAC or its leadership, warning students not to allow themselves to be used by any individual who may have vested interest in the Orhii’s investigation.
Sheu said NANS is committed to efforts by the NAFDAC chief to rid the country of fake and counterfeit drugs, saying that such effort were already yielding results in most tertiary institutions.
“We support and encourage the EFCC in its effort and anti-corruption activities. We only wish to state that such should be devoid of bias or undue politics in order not to destroy the international reputation Nigeria has enjoyed globally through the activities of NAFDAC in waging war against drug counterfeiting, drug abuse and unwholesome consumption of food, beverages and other dangerous alcoholic contents.
“We strongly believe that any genuine effort to investigate corrupt practices, particularly, as the case may be in NAFDAC, such must be all inclusive and should not be seen as an exercise to witch hunt the director general alone,” he said.
-
Reopen LASU now, NANS urges govt
By tomorrow, the seven-day ultimatum given by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), to the Lagos State government to reopen the Lagos State University (LASU) will lapse. However, workers are describing the threat as ’empty’ and insisting that students have no jurisdiction to dabble into management workers affairs.
The academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of LASU, said it suspected that the manner the students action was orchestrated may not rule out an exchange of cash between LASU Vice-Chancellor Prof Johh Oladapo Obafunwa and NANS members.
But Obafunwa has denied the allegation. He told The Nation that his records of not giving or collecting a bribe are there for anyone to verify.
On Friday last week, NANS Zone D in conjunction with LASUSU, held a briefing where the former said it is about time they curtailed worker’s excesses.
“National Association of Nigeria Students Zone D Southwest therefore submits that this ineptitude in LASU was as a result of the inability to curtail the excesses of staff unions by the students’ union in LASU as the largest shareholder on campus,” said General Secretary of the zone, Comrade Bidemi Obanobi.
Interestingly, some workers eventually got wind of the seemingly discreet briefing held at the university’s Faculty of Education and intercepted NANS, a development that later culminated into war of words between the two parties.
Obanobi said NANS Zone D comprising 54 tertiary institutions in the Southwest, cannot be underestimated considering the fact that students are also stakeholders in the system.
NANS described as ‘dehumanising and embarrassing’ the pelting of the Vice-Chancellor Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa with sachet water and forcing him out of the university premises on Monday March 16.
The student’s body lamented that since that day, Senate and Administrative Block 1 which houses Obafunwa’s office, have remained under lock, making it impossible for the Senate and Obafunwa to operate.
In a phone interview on Monday, LASUSU PRO Fatai Lasisi said the union had to pitch its tent with NANS because their students who have just concluded their second semester examination, desperately need the Senate back to operate and vet their results so that convocation can hold and their certificates handed over to them.
“It is very important for the university Senate to call for an emergency meeting to consider the results of the just – concluded examination of all LASUITES so as to fast track the process of release of the results. A delay in the consideration of the students result might delay the release of the result and prolong the academic pursuit of most students on campus. Importantly, the Senate chamber is the heart of every institution” Obanobi added.
Obanobi, an alumnus of Osun State Polytechnic, recalled that on Friday March 20, LASUSU held a congress and resolved that Obafunwa should return to campus to complete his term which expires on October 31.
Obanobi said if the state government does not comply with their demand, NANS would mobilise its members for a protest to the seat of government in Alausa.
He said: “We want to reiterate the fact that the Vice Chancellor is not only the Vice Chancellor of the staff alone but also over 15,001 LASU students, thereby making the students the largest stake holders in the institution
Obanobi said it is laughable that workers should lock down the institution over their demands, adding that whether Obafunwa returns or not, the situation will still continue.
As at Sunday, news filtered that Obafunwa might be forcefully smuggled into LASU on Monday. But Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SSANU) LASU chapter Comrade Saheed Oseni, said it would never happen.
Speaking with our reporter, Oseni said NANS is laying a ‘bad precedence’, noting that the students are acting beyond their jurisdiction.
“We challenge them (NANS) to tell us what rights have they to dabble into management and union affairs?” Oseni queried.
“That means students are now teleguiding workers as to what to do. Whenever students are fighting with management we usually keep a safe distance so what’s their business with ours? They can only dabble into issues that directly affect them”
“Is it in their power to issue a directive to government? We also learned they are threatening to force open the offices that workers locked up.
“We are using this opportunity to call on parents to monitor their wards.
ASUU Chairman Adekule Idris alleged that Obafunwa is using NANS against workesr because of his inordinate ambition.
Idris said despite repeated appeals by the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for all parties to sheathe swords, Obafunwa has continued to use fronts to publish disparaging stories about workers in the media.
“Maybe NANS needs to explain to us what they meant by ‘reopening LASU’. Over the last two weeks our students had been writing exam. They have just finished and we are currently marking scripts. Let me also say the tradition of writing exam and promptly marking scripts and uploading same started under Prof (Lateef Akanni, Obafunwa’s predecessor) Hussein, so Obafunwa should not claim credit for that.
“If you come to LASU now, you will see the institution is at peace. The governor has been magnanimous enough and ASUU wishes to respect him by not taking up issues in the media. We have made available our submission to government and we are awaiting their response.”
Nonetheless, Obafunwa in a reply to an SMS earlier sent to thim by our reporter stated:
“I am sorry I have no idea of what you are referring to (NANS brefing). As for giving money to NANS, it is very laughable and I believe the students concerned will find the claim very offensive.
“By the way, it is known to even my detractors that I do not bribe people, which is one of their (workers) main quarrels with me. I have not allowed the usual looting in LASU to continue since I took over. I owe nobody apologies for that.
“I wish the few elements causing all the problems luck.”
The students also called to mind the just – concluded examinations which need urgent attention to fast track the process of release of result and delay in it could prolong the academic stay in campus.
He also noted that during NANS visit to the school, last Wednesday “the ambiance of the school was in disarray, where we heard gunshots in the campus. This is not the institution of our dream and it occurred because of the absence of the Vice Chancellor.”
-
NANS hails former leader on appointment
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B has congratulated one of its own, Comrade Jerry Ehiwario, on his appointment as Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Students’ Affairs.
NANS felicitated with Ehiwario in a statement issued at the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Pedro Obi.
Obi described Ehiwario’s appointment as a reward for hard work and loyalty to a worthy cause.
The statement reads: “To students in Delta State, Jerry Ehiwario is synonymous with hard work. He is a grassroots students’ leader and we in Zone B believe he will definitely bring his wealth of experience to bear as he coordinates the activities of the students’ community in the state to ensure education policies of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa are achieved.”
Obi said NANS had unshaken belief in Ehiwario’s capacity and ability to deliver on his mandate, pointing out that his appointment was a round peg in a hole.
-
NANS to protest students’ death
•‘Bar trailer drivers in daytime’
THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has deplored the activities of heavy-duty truck drivers on the highways, which it said had killed more than 15 students in the last two months.
The apex students’ body said it would be forced to apply extreme measures if the government did not find solution to the killings.
NANS Vice President for National Affairs, Gbenga Ayenuro, made the statement last weekend, following the death of two students, Isaac Omojuwa and Ebenezer Omojola, who were crushed by trailers on the Lagos-Ibadan and the Akure-Ilesha expressways.
•The late Isaac The late Isaac, a student of Ekiti State University (EKSU) and Treasurer of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), was travelling to Lagos when the bus conveying him was crushed by a trailer.
The late Ebenezer, who was president of Society of Chemistry Students of Nigeria (SCSN) at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, was involved in an accident caused by a cement truck.
Ayenuro said NANS would protest the incidents to draw attention to the killing of students by the heavy-duty vehicles on the highways. He urged the government agencies charged with making the highways safe for commuters to live up to the tasks by preventing and minimising accidents on expressways.
•The late Ebenezer He said the students’ body would no longer watch while trucks kill students. He said NANS had sent out letters to all Students’ Union Government (SUG) presidents and Joint Campus Committee (JCC) chairmen to block any federal highway to protest students’ death.
The SUG President of AAUA, Olukayode Ogunade, urged the government to bar trucks and trailers on the highways in the daytime.
He said such measure would prevent accidents on the highways, noting that activities of truck drivers on the road had led to loss of lives.
Olukayode condemned the Ebenezer’s death, saying it was wrong for the government to look away while trailers kill students on the highways.
He said: “It is disheartening, pathetic and appalling that fatal accidents now happen daily on our highways. The situation is unbearable and we can’t cope with it any longer. Our highways have turned to death trap, sucking the blood of innocent youths and productive students, who are potentially capable of changing the fortunes of this country.
“The Federal Government should caution the truck drivers on reckless driving and ensure strict compliance with road safety laws.”
-
VC gets NANS leadership award
Members of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in Zone B have conferred the leadership award on the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof Benjamin Ozumba.
The VC became the fifth person to receive the award. Others recipients include the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Prof Peter Ejiofor.
Presenting the award at the VC’s conference room, the Coordinator of NANS in the zone, Comrade Okorie Ikechukwu, said Ozumba was given the award, because of his contributions to the growth of education in the country.
He said: “We can, without any equivocation, bear testimony to the fact that Prof Ozumba has always supported any cause that uplifts education and anything that accelerates the pace of socio-economic transformation in Nigeria.”
The NANS leader described the VC as a man “who is dedicated to the pursuit of truth and fair play with the ability and patience to reconcile competing interests”.
He said NANS had confidence in Ozumba and his ability to make sacrifices for the interest of students, saying the VC had demonstrated the trait through the reduction of fees. Okorie called for youth involvement in governance to enable them expend their energy in nation building.
Responding, Ozumba hailed the students’ body for the award, saying he was happy his contributions to education were being recognised by students, who he described as members of his primary constituency.
He said his interest in the students’ welfare dated back to his undergraduate years at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he was an activist.
He said: “While serving as a Dean and the Provost of College of Medicine, I continued to fight for and protected the interest of my students.”
He said his administration was making effort to improve municipal services in all the campuses of the university. According to him, the administration has provided internet services for students’ use and ensured steady flow of water in the hostels. He said plan was being made to provide independent power source for the school.
Ozumba expressed confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the new leader would bring succor to the education.
-
‘I’ll restore students’ confidence in NANS’
His tenure as Lagos State University Students’ Union Government (LASU SUG) president was marred by struggles against fee hike, which forced the government to revert to the old fee. Nurudeen Yusuf, a 500-Level Law student, wants to take a shot at Southwest leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He tells SIKIRU AKINOLA what he intends to achieve if elected.
You have handed over as Lagos State University (LASU) Students’ Union Government (SUG) president. Why do you want to lead students in the Southwest?
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is at a crossroads in the Southwest, which was once seen as the most vibrant zone. My aspiration is a beacon of hope, because NANS in this part of the country has not lived up to its billings.
The dreams of our past leaders that inspired vibrant unionism have been smothered. Today, thousands of students have looked away in disillusionment and frustration. The leadership has failed to provide an enabling environment for students to show their leadership skills and academic prowess.
The minimum acceptable standard of leadership should be to improve the level of intellectual culture of the students, starting from the most basic form of education to the higher institutions. Leaders must also be able to protect students against victimisation and unlawful expulsion. Given the experience I had as president of LASU Students’ Union Government (SUG), I believe I am competent to restore confidence in NANS. I intend to offer a responsible and responsive leadership, having satisfied the requirements of the association and the electoral laws.
How do you plan to scale the hurdle, given that students from Lagos State and Obafemi Awolowo universities are seen as too ideological for NANS leadership?
First, Lagos is the Centre of Excellence, while Ile-Ife is the cradle of Yoruba civilisation. These uncommon features resonate in whoever is taking the gauntlet of leadership from these axes. The exemplary leadership qualities students from these places have are easily seen anywhere. But, we will not fold our arms while some people plan to abort our common destiny. I am the only one, who is running normal academic programme among the candidates. We cannot continue to entrust our leadership in the hands of people whose studentship has question mark.
What do you think is responsible for the ideological decline in NANS in this part?
NANS is a structure erected on leftist ideology to serve as dependable pressure group. The existence of the body is not by accident, but as a result of exposure of the NANS founding leaders to the yearning of the people and students. Just as the likes of Obafemi Awolowo were spurred to struggle for our independence, NANS founding members secured liberty for the students’ movement and laid the foundations for vibrant students’ union. They built the most vibrant students’ movement, nurture the institution and defended its ideologies. These ideals have been eroded by the ineptitude of dim-witted students’ leaders who have ruled in the past years. NANS is being misrepresented, vilified and seen as group of bandits. But, change is inevitable. We must sort separate the chaff from the wheat.
What will you correct if elected as Zone D coordinator?
I would, first of all, restore the trust students have in the body. Because of years of broken promises and inaction, students are skeptical about NANS and its leadership. We would adhere strictly to the principles to regain the confidence of members and avoid the past failure. The disconnection between NANS and students would be a thing of the past. This is the core of our strength as enshrined in the preamble to the NANS constitution. I am also coming to restore the hopes and aspirations of students in the Southwest by keeping faith with the tenet of unionism, which is activism. We must retrace our steps and restore our shared values.
What is your expectation from President Muhammadu Buhari on education?
Nelson Mandela said education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world. Lee Quan Yew led Singapore to prosperity through human capital development. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the core element of All Progressives Congress (APC) mission is to make education, from primary to university, accessible to all people, regardless of economic circumstances. To survive in the modern world, education remains the key. Therefore, we do not like a situation where only eight per cent of our national budget is allocated to education. We want President Buhari to increase the quota to 41 per cent as done in Kenya. Our campuses are veritable platforms for cross fertilisation of ideas to transform our society. Some of country’s challenges would be solved in the president invest heavily in education.
Is it true that some politicians sponsored you during the LASU fee hike struggle?
Let me put the record straight. Nobody, whether politician or lecturer, sponsored our struggle against the Lagos State government during the LASU fee hike struggle. If anyone or group of persons, except students, claimed to have sponsored the struggle, let him come out and say it in the public. The struggle was for our well-being and we took it up to the level that forced former Governor Babatunde Fashola to reverse the fees. Though we were persecuted, but we thank God we did not fail.
-
Stop meddling in unionism, NANS tells authorities
The Zone B arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called for the autonomy of Students’ Union Government (SUG) in higher institutions.
It condemned the practice of union leaders going through the management’s administrative chain for approval of funds and projects. NANS said it would not allow the subjugation of Student Representatives’ Council, which is empowered to give such approval.
In a statement by the zone’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Pedro Obi, NANS said SUG should have the freedom to run its affairs just as the workers’ unions.
Obi said: “The excuse by managements of higher institutions to check financial recklessness in Students’ Unions holds no water, because parliament is the only body empowered by union constitution to perform checks and balances on executive in line with best practice.”
He warned the management of the Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu to stop meddling in Students’ Union affairs, saying the conduct was affecting the smooth running of the union.
Pedro also condemned the action of the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic in Ogwashi Uku, Dr E. Mogekwu, for using security agencies to harass students’ leaders.
He said: “NANS demands from higher institutions’ managements to completely desist from meddling in the running of Students’ Union. It negates the philosophy which brought students’ unionism into existence. We are sounding a note of warning to all institutions involved in this crime to turn a new leaf or face the wrath of students.”
-
NANS: we’ll resist pressure to use us against AMCON
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday distanced itself from any alleged move by a Lagos lawyer, to discredit the management of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
A statement by the student body directed its members to “bluff any overture or inducement from any quarters against AMCON management.”
The statement came on the heels of reports that some of its members were allegedly planning to stage a protest in Abuja and Lagos against AMCON and its Managing Director, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi.
The statement signed by its National President, Mr. Tijani Usman, and titled: “NANS Dissociates Self from the Picketing of AMCON” warned that it cannot be used to achieve any untoward objective against AMCON.
The statement reads: “NANS has a primary mandate of fighting for the dignity and rights of students and putting all issues concerning the education and empowerment of the youth on the front burner.”
While acknowledging the achievements of AMCON since its inception, NANS said: “The Mustafa Chike-Obi led AMCON management has successfully turned around some enterprises under its management and sold them at a profit to shareholders and investors.
“The leadership of NANS therefore dissociates itself completely and unequivocally from any picketing of AMCON or any demonstration against its management, since it is a distraction that has nothing to with the aims and objectives of Nigeria’s foremost students’ body, representing all shades of opinion.”
-
NANS mourns OOU students
The National Secretariat, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday commiserated with the Olabisi Olabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye over the death of 12 students in an auto crash on Friday.
The NANS’s statement reads: “Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about the students that died. On behalf of the State and National Secretariat, We sent this to support the Nigerian students in our grieving process. with sincere sympathy. The loss of a loved ones is always an unfathomable tragedy, which is compounded when such death. occurs at an unripe age. May their hearts and souls find peace and comfort.
“We wish the students Union Government Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, the deceased family, OOU management and entire students community of peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in their hearts.
Be comforted by the outpouring of love surrounding them. When reason fails, they should pray for peace. We will be praying for you.
“We pray that God will grant repose to the soul of the departed, comfort their entire families and give them the strength to bear their loss. We also wish the immediate families of the deceased God’s succour in their moment of darkness.”
