WHO IS THE AUTHENTIC NANS (STUDENTS) PRESIDENT?

Sir,

WHO IS THE AUTHENTIC NANS (STUDENTS) PRESIDENT?

Another serious issue that might lead to national unrest is the National Association of Nigerian Students presidency. Ever since the convention of the students’ association which took place at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10 Abuja in December 2009, there has been conflicting situation as to who is the authentic NANS President. Variously in the media one has noticed that while one Ini Ememobong operates from University of Uyo, another Jude Imagwe operates from Univeristy of Benin. They are the vocal two among the factions that came to be thereafter the election. 

The past Ministers of Education and of Labour together with the National Security Adviser watched helplessly unperturbed. Will the new ones act? Is it when the rivalry gets bad to the point of students creating unrest? 

Reading page 11 of Leadership  newspaper of 24/12/09, it was quoted that Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and the Police allowed mayhem to be unleashed on one of the candidates. Quoting from the newspaper NANS President Imagwe said that the security men pounced on him when he insisted that the elction should not be rigged in favour of Ememobong. Prince Okura who emerged vice-president in one of the camps as reported in the same Leadership  newspaper, pointedly accused Governor Akpabio of being the brain behind the latest row in NANS. He accused Akpabio of doling out N50million in sponsorship to Ememobong for pecuniary reasons towards the 2011. He further said “We shall not allow him to have his way. Whatever PDP wants to do, they must not use NANS. The time has come to rescue NANS and position it to play the role of a pressure group”.

Towards solving this, Nigerian Students call on the National Security Adviser of Nigeria, retired General Aliyu Gusau, and other authorities concerned to take this matter very seriously and get to the root of it before it generates into something else.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed and stitching in time saves nine, a saying goes.

Dr. Taribo Opuaya, 388 Aba Road, P.H, R/State.