4th October, 2010
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC), has condemned the parochial and self-serving political activities of some National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) so-called ‘leaders’.
In a press statement signed by the National Secretary of the group, Mr Chinedu Bosah, the ERC described the activities of the different factions of NANS leadership as shameless acts, adding that the student body has lost its vibrant tradition and has been taken over by opportunists who deploy it to serve the interests of different sections of the ruling class.
ERC condemned one of the factional presidents of NANS, Mr. Jude Imague, who was reported in the media to have declared that NANS and all Nigerian students support President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency in the 2011 election. The statement credited to Imague had stated that: “We (Nigerian students) are equally unanimous in our scrutiny that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, having served as a lecturer, Local Government Chairman, Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President and current president of the nation, is the most experienced, qualified, efficient, reliable, equitable, and fair Nigerian to lead Nigeria to the promised land in 2011 as Nigeria’s Presidentâ€.
ERC said the statement is fallacious, making a reference to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who “twice served this country in the highest capacity and more than any other leader but failed woefully!â€
ERC declared that they have opposed Jonathan’s aspiration like all other anti-students/workers presidential aspirants/candidates due to their anti-education posture in relation to the underfunding of education at levels. They said using the name of NANS and Nigerian students in whatever capacity to declare support for any presidential aspirant is not only sheer opportunism, but is also undemocratic and treacherous.
—Adeyera Olubunmi