- Students flog colleagues for dining with politicians
- Change on the way, says new President
He that dines with the devil must have a long spoon.
Executive officers of the National Association of Nigerian Students
(NANS) did not take this advice seriously when they fell in a sizzling
romance with politicians and money-bags of the society. That
sugar-coated relationship has robbed the body of its good name,
belittling it to the status of a cheap praise- band.
Several students, apparently dissatisfied by this development, accuse the association of abdicating its watchdog role on education-related issues to become a political megaphone for desperate politicians.
Recall that NANS led and motivated mass action against the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) imposed by the Ibrahim Babangida. The association, unbowed by military might, remained a strong opposition to the military. Worthy of mention was the heroic courage of the association during the popular ‘Ali Must Go’ protest. Sadly, gone were the days when every government in power dreaded students like a gadfly.
Today, NANS presently wears a new face painted with wealth. During the last strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the association had condemned ASUU for prolonging the strike despite certain concessions made by the Federal Government and had threatened to drag the varsity lecturers to court for keeping them at home for such a long time. This position contradicted the earlier resolve of the association not to get involved in the crisis, noting that the agitation by the aggrieved lecturers was for the good of the nation’s university system.What made the students’ body shift its ground and become so sympathetic with the government, despite the reasonable demands made by their lecturers remained unclear.
However, investigation by our reporters revealed that key executive officers of the union drive in a convoy of exotic cars, spending weeks in five-star hotels on the bills of faceless benefactors. They become hired hands for those seeking elective offices. Members of the union serve as advance party for politicians during political rally, chanting their ‘Aluta’ songs in solidarity. The students’ body has degenerated to a lame dog, crawling behind self-seeking politicians for pittance. To some students, NANS has ceased to protect their interests and must be disbanded.
Recently, one- time Senate President of the association, Tijani Usman, emerged the 28th NANS President amid high expectations for change from those who want corruption rooted out of the students’ body.
Tijani succeeded the 27th President, Yinka Gbadebo, whose tenure was marred by serial controversies. The new President held four top positions of NANS at different points under different administration before being elected the president.
Relatively unknown by majority of Nigerian students, Tijani, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, was voted by over 150 presidents of Students’ Union Government in the country and he emerged President with an astounding 88 percent of the vote in a September 6 election, held in Delta.
In his acceptance speech, he promised to pursue a balanced development for the over 40 million Nigerian students, both at home and in Diaspora. He also vowed to strengthen the relationship between the officers and other students in order to ensure representation of students’ interests which he believes would restore the lost traditions and legacies of NANS.
Speaking through his chief spokesperson, Momodu Daniel, the NANS President said, “The present administration of NANS will fight earnestly for the interest of the Nigerian students and we shall never involve NANS in any partisan politics. As part of our own effort to recognize excellence in all fields, we will always commend people who deserve it and condemn those who are culpable. We will not affiliate NANS to any political party because we have sworn to desist from all political activities that might tarnish the image of NANS or drag the association into morass and mire”.
Some students, who spoke with our reporter, expressed loss of confidence on the association, citing several misgivings of previous leaderships. They accuse their leaders of endorsing dubious politicians for monetary gains, lack of accountability and turning themselves to allies of unscrupulous individuals.
Samuel Bamidele, a 400level student of Linguistics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), told our reporter that students are clamouring for a rebirth of the association.
He said NANS should be more student-oriented than being a political association or student wing of a political party. He advised the leaders of the association to consult other students before making important political decisions.
Although Tijani and his cabinet members would soon be inaugurated, the dust raised by the last election that brought him to power is yet to settle. The election was disrupted and failed to produce officers for some vacant positions, though Roys Ochais was declared new Senate President. The key issues that the incoming administration must address remain clear. Top on the list of agitation by students is the transformation of the association, which can now be better described as a youth wing of the ruling party.
Some aggrieved students told our reporters that NANS has betrayed its mission. According to them, subsequent presidents were guilty of fraternizing with politicians.
Across many tertiary institutions, the association received more condemnations than commendations from students who accuse the body of pursuing parochial interests that are never in general interest.
Investigation revealed that key officers of the association live large. They gallivant around like Spartans, dishing commands to their “boys”. Drinking and smoking habits are comon among them.They move in convoy of expensive cars, and parade escorts during public functions. To satisfy their lust for fortune, they confer awards of excellence to unworthy set of people.
Mr. Ayodeji John, a former NANS comrade, told our reporter that the association needed a thorough in-house cleansing to rid itself of undesired elements.
“NANS will need to promote accountability and stop showering praises on politicians for selfish gains. At the same time, it must ensure that the body has a structural plan and a sacrosanct constitution, which will check the inordinate behaviours of its leaders. The idea of godfatherism exists quite well in NANS and this is in fact the major malady facing the students’ movement. These godfathers are regarded as “stakeholders”. They are past leaders of the association who have knowledge of the escapades of the present leaders and wish to have a share of any money received by the leadership,” he said.
Ayodeji said he was proud of the achievements recorded by Tijani when he was the Senate President and urged him to embark on radical approach to redeem the battered image of the association.
Spokesman to the NANS President, Momodu, said they are aware of the public concern over the deterioration in students’ unionism in recent years, especially the increasing level of corruption and the widening gap between the led and their leaders.
“People want transparency and new opportunities. Past administrations have done what they could but our administration will definitely find a lasting solution to the quagmire and problems facing the association as a whole so that students can believe and support us indefatigably. We want change too and we promise never to compromise standard,” he promised.
Our reporter gathered that the outgoing administration was plagued by scandals, internal crisis and fraud. Although the outgoing President, Gbadebo inherited an association with integrity problems, indiscipline, selfish alliance, and a partisan interest, not much was done to address these problems. Rather, he lost his feet in the flood. Internal crisis rocked the association without end, creating splinter groups loyal to Gbadebo on one hand and the erstwhile Deputy Senate President, John Shima on the other. Like a house divided against itself, the fall of NANS was imminent.
It was widely reported that NANS pledged support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Findings revealed that this decision was taken by few people without adequate consultation of other students.
NANS’ allegiance to the government of President Jonathan was attributed to the fact that some of its past leaders are presently holding top positions in the present administration. Some of these top guns include: Information Minister, Labaran Maku, Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students and Youth matters, Mr Jude Imagwe.
Although Tijani has promised a more “honest” politics, whether he will keep the promises in the face of tempting pressures is flying in the wind. His promise to eradicate partisan politics and end its romance with top politicians is waiting to be fulfilled. His score sheet would reveal whether he has passed the integrity test, which has destroyed the body for over two decades.
“I hope he doesn’t let us down. He seems to know what we need: trust from the people, discipline, social security, honesty and accountability. And his decisions shouldn’t be to hurt the students he is meant to fight for,” said Adamu Suleiman, a 22-year-old student of Ahmadu Bello University.
Student activist, Femi Aromofe said NANS has been hijacked by non- students, people who are not qualified to lead the students, people without good academic and moral records.
“They’re only making fool of the Nigerian education system. We hardly and rarely see these so called leader. We don’t know them but they claim to represent the interests of the students by campaigning for politicians, political thieves and looters,” he lamented.
Dr. Sunday Olabanji, a staff of the University of Lagos, argued that if a religious body could make the Federal government its top ally, people shouldn’t condemn a mere organization controlled by students for supporting the government.
“Our trade unions also support government policies. There is no other choice but to negotiate, even with the devil, but only when it doesn’t compromise principles. People will understand this as long as those negotiations are conducted openly,” he said.
A former student leader and lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Dr. Adebayo, said the new NANS President faces a test of faith in the 2015 election. He said Tijani would face more problems because of the present political battle to win Nigeria by different politicians who will be ready to spend more money on NANS and its leaders in order to get their supports ahead of next year’s elections.
Some student representatives, who attended the Delta convention of NANS, expressed hopes that Tijani would initiate reforms and improve.
To overcome these problems, Segun Adeyemo, a student journalist argued that one of the crucial and most immediate tasks for the new leadership is to establish a strong government, a cabinet filled by intelligent students, to be more focused and without political self-interest.
“NANS should deal with urgent education matters, rather than political issues,” he advised.
Does Tijani have the political will to win back the hearts of aggrieved Nigerian students and forge a strong body that would champion students’ interest? The future will tell whether the he would stand among men of honour or squat with corrupt leaders.
Several students, apparently dissatisfied by this development, accuse the association of abdicating its watchdog role on education-related issues to become a political megaphone for desperate politicians.
Recall that NANS led and motivated mass action against the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) imposed by the Ibrahim Babangida. The association, unbowed by military might, remained a strong opposition to the military. Worthy of mention was the heroic courage of the association during the popular ‘Ali Must Go’ protest. Sadly, gone were the days when every government in power dreaded students like a gadfly.
Today, NANS presently wears a new face painted with wealth. During the last strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the association had condemned ASUU for prolonging the strike despite certain concessions made by the Federal Government and had threatened to drag the varsity lecturers to court for keeping them at home for such a long time. This position contradicted the earlier resolve of the association not to get involved in the crisis, noting that the agitation by the aggrieved lecturers was for the good of the nation’s university system.What made the students’ body shift its ground and become so sympathetic with the government, despite the reasonable demands made by their lecturers remained unclear.
However, investigation by our reporters revealed that key executive officers of the union drive in a convoy of exotic cars, spending weeks in five-star hotels on the bills of faceless benefactors. They become hired hands for those seeking elective offices. Members of the union serve as advance party for politicians during political rally, chanting their ‘Aluta’ songs in solidarity. The students’ body has degenerated to a lame dog, crawling behind self-seeking politicians for pittance. To some students, NANS has ceased to protect their interests and must be disbanded.
Recently, one- time Senate President of the association, Tijani Usman, emerged the 28th NANS President amid high expectations for change from those who want corruption rooted out of the students’ body.
Tijani succeeded the 27th President, Yinka Gbadebo, whose tenure was marred by serial controversies. The new President held four top positions of NANS at different points under different administration before being elected the president.
Relatively unknown by majority of Nigerian students, Tijani, a student of Ahmadu Bello University, was voted by over 150 presidents of Students’ Union Government in the country and he emerged President with an astounding 88 percent of the vote in a September 6 election, held in Delta.
In his acceptance speech, he promised to pursue a balanced development for the over 40 million Nigerian students, both at home and in Diaspora. He also vowed to strengthen the relationship between the officers and other students in order to ensure representation of students’ interests which he believes would restore the lost traditions and legacies of NANS.
Speaking through his chief spokesperson, Momodu Daniel, the NANS President said, “The present administration of NANS will fight earnestly for the interest of the Nigerian students and we shall never involve NANS in any partisan politics. As part of our own effort to recognize excellence in all fields, we will always commend people who deserve it and condemn those who are culpable. We will not affiliate NANS to any political party because we have sworn to desist from all political activities that might tarnish the image of NANS or drag the association into morass and mire”.
Some students, who spoke with our reporter, expressed loss of confidence on the association, citing several misgivings of previous leaderships. They accuse their leaders of endorsing dubious politicians for monetary gains, lack of accountability and turning themselves to allies of unscrupulous individuals.
Samuel Bamidele, a 400level student of Linguistics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), told our reporter that students are clamouring for a rebirth of the association.
He said NANS should be more student-oriented than being a political association or student wing of a political party. He advised the leaders of the association to consult other students before making important political decisions.
Although Tijani and his cabinet members would soon be inaugurated, the dust raised by the last election that brought him to power is yet to settle. The election was disrupted and failed to produce officers for some vacant positions, though Roys Ochais was declared new Senate President. The key issues that the incoming administration must address remain clear. Top on the list of agitation by students is the transformation of the association, which can now be better described as a youth wing of the ruling party.
Some aggrieved students told our reporters that NANS has betrayed its mission. According to them, subsequent presidents were guilty of fraternizing with politicians.
Across many tertiary institutions, the association received more condemnations than commendations from students who accuse the body of pursuing parochial interests that are never in general interest.
Investigation revealed that key officers of the association live large. They gallivant around like Spartans, dishing commands to their “boys”. Drinking and smoking habits are comon among them.They move in convoy of expensive cars, and parade escorts during public functions. To satisfy their lust for fortune, they confer awards of excellence to unworthy set of people.
Mr. Ayodeji John, a former NANS comrade, told our reporter that the association needed a thorough in-house cleansing to rid itself of undesired elements.
“NANS will need to promote accountability and stop showering praises on politicians for selfish gains. At the same time, it must ensure that the body has a structural plan and a sacrosanct constitution, which will check the inordinate behaviours of its leaders. The idea of godfatherism exists quite well in NANS and this is in fact the major malady facing the students’ movement. These godfathers are regarded as “stakeholders”. They are past leaders of the association who have knowledge of the escapades of the present leaders and wish to have a share of any money received by the leadership,” he said.
Ayodeji said he was proud of the achievements recorded by Tijani when he was the Senate President and urged him to embark on radical approach to redeem the battered image of the association.
Spokesman to the NANS President, Momodu, said they are aware of the public concern over the deterioration in students’ unionism in recent years, especially the increasing level of corruption and the widening gap between the led and their leaders.
“People want transparency and new opportunities. Past administrations have done what they could but our administration will definitely find a lasting solution to the quagmire and problems facing the association as a whole so that students can believe and support us indefatigably. We want change too and we promise never to compromise standard,” he promised.
Our reporter gathered that the outgoing administration was plagued by scandals, internal crisis and fraud. Although the outgoing President, Gbadebo inherited an association with integrity problems, indiscipline, selfish alliance, and a partisan interest, not much was done to address these problems. Rather, he lost his feet in the flood. Internal crisis rocked the association without end, creating splinter groups loyal to Gbadebo on one hand and the erstwhile Deputy Senate President, John Shima on the other. Like a house divided against itself, the fall of NANS was imminent.
It was widely reported that NANS pledged support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. Findings revealed that this decision was taken by few people without adequate consultation of other students.
NANS’ allegiance to the government of President Jonathan was attributed to the fact that some of its past leaders are presently holding top positions in the present administration. Some of these top guns include: Information Minister, Labaran Maku, Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students and Youth matters, Mr Jude Imagwe.
Although Tijani has promised a more “honest” politics, whether he will keep the promises in the face of tempting pressures is flying in the wind. His promise to eradicate partisan politics and end its romance with top politicians is waiting to be fulfilled. His score sheet would reveal whether he has passed the integrity test, which has destroyed the body for over two decades.
“I hope he doesn’t let us down. He seems to know what we need: trust from the people, discipline, social security, honesty and accountability. And his decisions shouldn’t be to hurt the students he is meant to fight for,” said Adamu Suleiman, a 22-year-old student of Ahmadu Bello University.
Student activist, Femi Aromofe said NANS has been hijacked by non- students, people who are not qualified to lead the students, people without good academic and moral records.
“They’re only making fool of the Nigerian education system. We hardly and rarely see these so called leader. We don’t know them but they claim to represent the interests of the students by campaigning for politicians, political thieves and looters,” he lamented.
Dr. Sunday Olabanji, a staff of the University of Lagos, argued that if a religious body could make the Federal government its top ally, people shouldn’t condemn a mere organization controlled by students for supporting the government.
“Our trade unions also support government policies. There is no other choice but to negotiate, even with the devil, but only when it doesn’t compromise principles. People will understand this as long as those negotiations are conducted openly,” he said.
A former student leader and lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Dr. Adebayo, said the new NANS President faces a test of faith in the 2015 election. He said Tijani would face more problems because of the present political battle to win Nigeria by different politicians who will be ready to spend more money on NANS and its leaders in order to get their supports ahead of next year’s elections.
Some student representatives, who attended the Delta convention of NANS, expressed hopes that Tijani would initiate reforms and improve.
To overcome these problems, Segun Adeyemo, a student journalist argued that one of the crucial and most immediate tasks for the new leadership is to establish a strong government, a cabinet filled by intelligent students, to be more focused and without political self-interest.
“NANS should deal with urgent education matters, rather than political issues,” he advised.
Does Tijani have the political will to win back the hearts of aggrieved Nigerian students and forge a strong body that would champion students’ interest? The future will tell whether the he would stand among men of honour or squat with corrupt leaders.
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NANS UNDER FIRE! |
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