Another despicable act is the award-for-sale episode by Jude Imagwe, who took it to a different level by giving an award to the Chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri in her office. We view the receipt of this Award by the EFCC boss as the height of corruption and consequently dissociate NANS from the said award. NANS awards are not given in the privacy of people’s houses or offices, but at a public function attended by many distinguished persons.
PRESS STATEMENT: THIS MADNESS MUST STOP! – NANS
We have come to the inevitable conclusion that we cannot fold our arms or sit on the fence while crucial matters capable of determining national growth and affecting the future of Nigerian Students are going on. We have therefore considered it imperative to come out of our studied silence and postulate on a few issues.
The reconstitution of the Executive Council of the Federation is viewed by us as a conscious, concerted and calculated attempt by the Acting President to reinvigorate the system so as to deliver on the joint campaign promises made to Nigerians by the Yar’Adua/Jonathan Presidential ticket in 2007. This to us is an acceptance of responsibility and a desire to move Nigeria forward.
By the reappointment of some former ministers and the appointment of others into ministerial positions, the Acting President has given them an opportunity to make their mark and cause history and posterity to record them on their golden pages. It is noteworthy that the excuse of the shortness of their tenure will not avail them as globally; it has been shown that irrespective of time, determined leaders make their mark. We particularly charge the Honourable Minister of Education to work assiduously to achieve the aims of the ministry. She must ensure that all sectors of education i.e. curriculum, infrastructure, students, teachers etc. are well attended to. There is surely a huge load of work on her table.
On electoral reforms, we have stated time and again that a trustworthy electoral system is the panacea to Nigeria’s numerous problems. Our elected officials must realise that their fate is in our hands. Until our votes count, our voices will not be heard. In as much as we desire a credible electoral process, the head or driver of such a body is critical and key to the overall desired result. We adopt the Justice Uwais report in its totality and urge the Acting President and National Assembly to integrate the recommendations in our body laws.
We are most bothered by the ignoble and ugly scenario where many people continually and fraudulently parade as NANS President, doing the bids of their pay masters. This circumstance is most disturbing and embarrassing considering the type of opprobrium their action earns the dignified association. We will mention a few cases for proper comprehension.
A certain Character named Etuk Bassey Williams, who claims to be a student of the University of Uyo published an article in Thisday of April 2, 2010 with the caption “NANS wants NAPEP to be investigated”. In the said article, he was described as NANS President and issued some unfounded allegations and baseless threats. While we, like most Nigerians were anxious to know the veracity or otherwise of the rumours which made the rounds concerning the alleged missing KeKe NAPEP 2.4 Billion Naira contract documents, it certainly would not have been fair to crucify a person without hearing from him. It surely negates the principle of fair hearing.
On the issue, the National Coordinator has said that there are no missing funds or documents, but the rumour was given rise to by an information gap created by administrative bottle-necks, which have since been sorted out. As young people, we are totally against the trial via the mass media of factual matters instead of the normal and expected resort to proper investigation and prosecution where need be.
The truth is that the said Bassey lacked the capacity to have issued such threats and surely did it with fraudulent intent. We urge the National Coordinator and all well-meaning Nigerians to discard as baseless the threats.
Another despicable act is the award-for-sale episode by Jude Imagwe, who took it to a different level by giving an award to the Chairman of EFCC, Mrs. Farida Waziri in her office. We view the receipt of this Award by the EFCC boss as the height of corruption and consequently dissociate NANS from the said award. NANS awards are not given in the privacy of people’s houses or offices, but at a public function attended by many distinguished persons. We are therefore wondering which reasonable award is taken to the person at home. This act by an impostor who is well known to the commission is questionable and unbecoming.
We had earlier thought that this madness will terminate naturally after a while, thinking that it was a post traumatic stress disorder resulting from their glaring loss at the polls. This was what informed the moratorium we granted them, but from contemporary events, it is obvious that this handshake has passed the elbow and therefore must be halted immediately before it further destroys what remains of the good name of our beloved organization.
We charge the security apparatus of government to rise to the task and protect innocent Nigerians from the fraudulent tendencies of impostors parading as NANS Presidents. This scenario, if left unchecked will lead to mega fraud in our country. We advise people who are being approached to be conferred with an award by NANS to immediately call the police as they are being approached by fraudsters; any body who is threatened or blackmailed without basis by anybody claiming to be a President of NANS should report the person to the police and further take necessary legal actions.
To all Senators (S.U.G. Presidents) and JCC Executive members, I urge you to remember that we hold our offices in trust for the larger mass of Nigerian Students who have their yearnings and aspirations which must at all times tower above any individual interests. As custodians of the sacred trust of Nigerian students, we must remember that we are a city upon the hill with the eyes of the people constantly on us. We must agree with Abraham Lincoln’s postulation that “Man owes humanity without question, to leave every environment better than he met it”. We must be committed beyond the ordinary to ensure, protect and promote the unity, progress and growth of our country Nigeria. It is the only country we have.
God bless NANS
God bless Nigeria
Signed:
Com. Ini Ememobong
National President
Faculty of Law
University of Uyo
Com. Agbabiaka Ahmad
Senate President
Department of Marine Biology and Fisheries
Lagos State University
Com. Danjuma Bello Sarki
Vice President, National Affairs
Department of Economics
Ahmadu Bello University
Kaduna
Com. Isah Abdulkadir
Vice President, Special Duties
Business Administration and Administration
Federal Polytechnic, Nassarawa
Com. Uko Michael Ukpong
Secretary General
Department of Botany and Ecological Sciences
University of Uyo
Com. Solace Godwin
Treasurer
Department of Zoology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka