From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has dissociated itself from the call for protest and demonstration in response to the recent fuel price hike.
NANS said the explanation became necessary following some recent information from some individuals it claimed are not its officials trying to destabilize the student community and mobilize them for demonstration over the recent decision to hike the price of fuel.
It, though sympathized with the students’ population on the pains caused by economic policies of the Federal Government, but insisted that protest nor demonstration is not the solution to the challenge, neither will it bring succour to the people, but further worsened the situation.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, on Saturday, the Coordinator of NANS Zone A,
Comrade Bilal Kurfi, said the Forum of Zonal Coordinators of the Association, had condemned the action of one Henry Adewumi Okunomo, who claimed to be student of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology and NASS leader, but
unknown the national leadership of NANS.
He asked the security agencies to carry out further investigations on the matter to avoid unnecessary destabilization of the students community.
Kurfi said: “Rather than marching to the streets in protest that can be hijacked to further heighten the already mounting and escalating tensions in the system, we believe that dialogue, rather than confrontation will be adopted to resolve the crisis, because we are intellectuals and not street urchins or political thugs that can be hired by anyone or a group of moneybags to destabilize the country.
“We also resolved to engage in an extensive dialogue with the Federal Government and NNPCL on how to bring a reduction to the price of petrol to mitigate the effect of inflation on our colleagues.
“Unarguably, the idea of protest being sinisterly called by some ‘non-students’ masquerading as our colleagues can destabilise the country, and this is not an option on our cards. We will rather dialogue than to be goaded into actions that can be deemed partisan and counterproductive to the development and unity of our nation.”
He maintained that NANS is strongly committed to peaceful and constructive engagement, and will not be part of any activity that may compromise the safety and well-being of students and the public.
He thus pleaded with the student population to await civil and democratic actions on the price hike, and be rest assured that the Federal Government will listen to agitations on the matter.
