The leadership of National Association of Nigeria Student, NANS, has berated Kogi State government stance on the continuous shutdown of Kogi State University, Anyigba over unresolved issues.
In response to the rejoinder by the Kogi State to her earlier press statement, Ezekiel Nwankwo, the Public Relations Officer of NANS, maintained that the student body will not shift grounds on the 7 day ultimatum given the state government to re-open the state university.
According to Nwankwo, it is rather unfortunate that the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State made futile attempts to rubbish the genuine intervention of the President of NANS, Comrade Usman Shehu Tijani, who is the most-informed Nigerian student as at today.
“It is important we put the records straight as we count down to the seven days ultimatum given the Kogi state government. The NANS leadership has no splinter group existing anywhere in Nigeria”, he said.
“It is not true that the cardinal objective of the ‘New Direction’ gimmick of Alhaji Yahaya Bello is built on the platform of Education otherwise, Nigerian students in Kogi State University, KSU, will have no need to have their education distorted because of local issues that could have been addressed head on.
“How can the intervention for the re-opening of the KSU be tagged ‘Irresponsible activism and misplace intervention’ by NANS? Should NANS be applauding the mismanagement of the smooth running of academic activities in one of our ivory towers under the visionless leadership of the new Kogi governor?
“What has the closure of the University has to do with the payment of bursary and scholarship to the Kogi students nationwide and improved facilities on campuses. This attempt to defend the failing government of Kogi State is rather unfortunate and disheartening.
“NANS will not really want to join issues with the Chief Press Secretary or the Special Adviser to the governor on student affairs who are not familiar with the workings of our revered organization but alleging that some interests sponsored our intervention is ridiculing and uncalled for by the official spokesman of the Kogi State government. The NANS cannot have an ulterior motive than the welfare of Nigerians Students Nationwide. And could not have been sponsored by any party.
Nwankwo wondered why every truth said in Nigeria is always seen as a sponsored job.
He urged the state government to listen to NANS initial prayers and avoid a total shutdown of the State government as the body count day one of her ultimatum and keep counting down to the seven days ultimatum which lapse early next week. NANS called on security agencies to take not of the ultimatum and the likely actions that will follow.
NANS is the umbrella body coordinating and directing the affairs of over 45 million and 1 Nigerian students home and in diaspora.
