NANS SET TO BACK OAU STUDENTS
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the endless proscription of the Students' Union body of the Obafemi Awolowo University by the university management of the institution.
OAU Students' Union, it would be recalled, was proscribed by the administration of former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Faborode on February 23, 2011 following a 2-day protest against the increment of acceptance fees from 2, 000 naira to 20, 000 naira by the university management¬¬, an action that infuriated the union leaders who later organized the peaceful protest that led to their suspension and closure of the institution cum the proscription of the union.
With another Vice Chancellor directing its affairs since June 24th, 2011, Obafemi Awolowo University is yet to have her well-respected Students' Union back.
It is against this backdrop that NANS call on the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bamitale Omole to stop his excessively dangerous brinkmanship style of diplomacy.
Prof. Bamitale Omole since his inception had assured the students of the university that the union would be restored but with little or no true readiness on the part of the university to return the union.
NANS has questioned and condemned the management over the 20,000 naira acceptance fee which they charge fresh students every session since
2011 as it argued that President Goodluck Jonathan, during an exclusive meeting with the leadership of NANS recently, denied knowledge of any acceptance fee and promised that investigation would commence soon.
The leadership of the association has urged the management to immediately unban the union and ensure an independent election without more ado.
NANS noted that the university management is playing on the psyche of the students with the introduction of the Students' Union Transition Committee it formed last session.
According to NANS, SUTC is not independent and it has not been given free hand to operate as the congress planned by body was annulled and negated by the university management.
NANS also noted that the ban had caused different cult attacks on the students—one student was shot recently at the school gate of the university— especially those staying off-campus; rape, unholy treatment of students by lecturers, epileptic power supply and nonchalant attitude of the university management to the general welfare of the students.
The National Secretariat of NANS has however given the University 2-week ultimatum to allow the hitherto annulled congress called by the Students' Union Transition Committee to hold or face the mobilization of Nigerian Students to occupy OAU.
NANS has, however, threatened to call for the congress on OAU campus if her demands fall on the deaf ears of the university.
The body further commends President Goodluck Jonathan for extending invitation to the President and the Secretary General of the association to attend the review of the White Paper submitted by the Steve Oronsaye-led committee.
NANS, however, condemn in strong terms the refusal of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mike A Oghiadomhe to extend the white paper report to the body even after the President of the body insisted on several occasions. .