EDUCATION RIGHTS
CAMPAIGN (ERC)
Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU) Branch
PRESS
STATEMENT
WE CONDEMN THE
POSITION OF NANS ZONE D LEADERSHIP ON THE CALLING OFF OF THE PROTEST ACTION ON THE
INCREASE IN FUEL PRICE AND THE TOTAL BETRAYAL OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS
It
would be recalled that a congress was convened by the Nans Zone D on May 16,
2016 where south west students gathered to deliberate on the recent anti-masses
position taken by the Federal Government on the removal of the fuel subsidy.
The congress was welcomed by the students with the intention that it would
provide an avenue for students to make their positions known on the current
economic challenges of the country. This position of calling for a congress by
the leadership was borne out of the Zone’s claim to be the ideological and
radical zone of the umbrella body of NANS. The agenda of the congress which
captured not only the question of subsidy removal but also was extended to the
deliberation on campus crises review, state of the nation amongst other pressing
issues. We wish to point it clear that the resolution of the congress on the
removal of the subsidy is the total reversal of the N145 announced by the
federal government to the status quo of N86.50k.
We
are neither surprised by the overnight compromise on the resolution of the
congress by the leadership of NANS Zone D. It is not only safe but safer to
conclude that NANS ZONE D has further justified our position on NANS being a
degenerated platform that can no longer represent the genuine interest of Nigerian
Students. This action likewise is an insult on the intellectuality of Nigerian
students.
Giving
a clarity on the unprincipled division within the ZONE D also, it was obvious
that the platform has sold the interest of Nigerian students for pecuniary
gains, the Coordinator- Ogunsola Okikiola, the General Secretary- Oloja
Olanrewaju, the Public Relations Officer (PRO)- Awowole Samuel (AWO SAM) are
the principal betrayers in this regard. The other executives of the Zone
especially the Deputy coordinator in person of Afolabi Saheed (Seedorf) kicked
against the Zone D leadership position by stating clearly that the
congressional resolution on resistance to the fuel price hike must still be
implemented. This was practicalized by calling and embarking on a protest in
Ile-Ife, Osun State on 24th of May, 2016 (Tuesday). The Deputy
Coordinator by this action claimed to be a respecter of the congress of the
students. But to our utmost discontent, after the protest, the position was on
the contrary by settling for palliative measures; a conditional acceptance of
the increase in fuel price. In this manner, it reveals that the entire Zone D has
totally reneged on the resolution of the congress and capitulated to the side
of the Federal Government. This action must be condemned by all Nigerian
students especially the south west students because the question of considering
palliative measures was never part of resolution of the congress. It is
therefore treacherous, that the leadership which claims to resist to the last
the policy of the Federal Government has absolutely conceded to the position of
the Federal Government.
It
is our stance that no amount of palliative measures will cushion the colossal negative
effects of the subsidy removal. This is not the first time in the history of
the country that the argument of palliative measures would be adduced. Subsidy
and Reinvestment Empowerment Program (SURE-P) introduced by Goodluck Jonathan
administration was just an example of the treachery and ineffectiveness of this
hollow phrase of palliative measures. Stating the obvious, the Buhari
administration cannot demonstrate any fundamental difference from his
predecessor-Goodluck Jonathan since they both operate the same economic system
of capitalism.
Once
again, the ERC condemns, in strong polemics this anti-students’ position of
NANS ZONE D LEADERSHIP. We hereby call on all Students’ Unions comprising of
Southwest Zone not only to dissociate themselves from this perfidy but likewise
join forces with the ERC to practically oppose the increase in fuel price and
all other anti-students’ policies of the ruling parties, while calling for the
building of more functioning refineries and for the nationalization of the oil
sector, power sector and other commanding heights of the economy under the
democratic control and management by the working people.
SIGNED
Adabale
Olamide (Coordinator)
Omole
Ibukun (Secretary)