NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS A.P.C CAUCUS VERSUS PDP CAUCUS by Lawal Sodiq Adewale Chocomilo

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS
A.P.C CAUCUS VERSUS PDP CAUCUS

Respected elders, brothers and sisters
“The Shaytan only desires to cause enmity and hatred to spring in your midst by means of intoxicants and games of chances...”
(Surah al-Mā’ida 5:91)


"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his interests, but also to the interests of others"
(1 Philippians 2:3-4)


"An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules"
(2 Timothy 2:5)


I received calls and messages from nigeria students which is a symbol of hope that our articles is widely accepted and is always respected by students, activists, comrades, officers of the security agency, individuals, men of intelligence, honor and self-respect. I feel honoured, consider myself privileged by your words of encouragement and admonition which is a symbol of our hardwork, integrity and dignity and I really appreciate your constant constructive criticisms, friendship extended and I promise never to divert from our motto and goals which is to serve as a critic to obnoxious policies and to preach better student organisations. Like I do always say and I will repeat myself loud and clear that you do not need to fear my pen but always fear the evils you have committed.


I was taken away by the winds of love which took us far but I am fully back on ground to satisfy your quench for truth & reliable information about the state of our lovely association which is an absolute disgrace to any rational human being. If you don't involve yourself in any wrong, you do not have to fear, so I implore officials of our association not to see us as enemy rather see us as a friend but a threat to injustice & any attempt to insult political fairness. I will try as much as possible to express myself in short form for our readers not to be bored but I tell you, we shall maintain a concise level even if we have to write in segments or parts.


I stand bold to say it anywhere that the political hullabaloo that befell our association at the level of the convention is a product of conspiracies from loyalists of student leaders of APC and PDP parties respectively. Try and check through verbal attacks on social websites, posts and comments which is convincing enough to serve as a defence to my claim.
It is my painful duty to inform you that our dear association is not only hijacked by non-students but our political parties have hijacked our pride and dignity as comrades, activists and students of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the use of deceit, money and cheap recognition. May those who contributed to the downfall of our association have no peace when it is not by charms or voodoos.



I challenge anybody irrespective of political parties, gender or status with a contrary opinion to challenge this claim of mine which is the bitter and sober truth. We have aspirants from the same party but with different leaders, ideology and focus. The ability of the PDP caucus, Chinuoso Obasi IBB to outsmart other presidential aspirants to convene another convention immediately after the planned disruption of the original convention like how Bukola Saraki outsmarted his opponents during the senate leadership election.
Truly, Prince Miaphen was duly elected as the conventional chairman by senators of our institutions. PDP caucus sensed that Miaphen arranged thugs, touts and halleluyah boys to disrupt the convention so as to remain the acting president of the association till we elect new leaders of the association and also to fulfill APC caucus written script to elect their own men at the elms of student affairs. Immediately after the disruption, PDP caucus of NANS gathered their loyalists & supporters to have another convention which produced the Chinuoso Obasi IBB as the president, Bamigbade Taiwo as the senate president and Odewumi ID-Aluta as the PRO while Miaphen said some aspirants arranged halleluyah boys, touts to disrupt the convention with guns, weapons & charms. He said to have postponed to convention till further notice for the protection of lives and properties after which some impostors gathered to announce themselves as elected officials of the union.



The days of debate are gone for good. We have nothing to argue on and nothing to fight for rather than the purposes and values of our association. Either Chinuoso Obasi is a faction leader or not, some senators brought him in as the president of our association, also some senators will attend the next convention to elect another executive to run affairs of the association. Can we have a perfect system like this? Can we fight for a common goal like this? Even Tijani who enjoyed full sovereignty wasn't able to do something except tanks of kerosene, monies he collected on our behalf. There is a need for us to come together if we want to achieve goals that are distinct. Surely, I tell Chinuoso Obasi, it is a matter of time; you will soon be disbursed like a cheque.


Leaders in NANS turned against themselves because of funds from our politicians. They turned us against ourselves as a result of our selfish desires. They enslaved our parents and aged persons yet they have enslaved some of us as students. Some of us have been bribed while some have been enticed with cheap recognition from the government. If as a youth, we find it difficult and hard to accept defeat, it is very clear and glaring that our nation is on the verge of state of nature where only the fittest will survive. I implore and urge the faction-leaders of NANS to come back to the drawing table for deliberation and together seek the reformation agenda with full implementation.


Politicians and selfish youths are the clog in the wheels of development of our dear association and we must stand up to fight jealously and rigorously against selfish leaders of no goals in our association. This is the time to fish out traitors and to fish out useless leaders in our dear association. This can only be achieved if we eliminate faction and face the real enemy together. I stand boldly to say that NANS have been hijacked from the students by non-students. There is a need for revolution. Let us ask ourselves why things are like this.


None of the aspirants for the convention chairman is a student of a known institution. Most senators are kangaroo student union presidents. None of the presidential aspirants is a bonafide student of a known school. What an insult.


There is a need for proper revolution in NANS and the only way revolution can come is through the intervention of the government. It is time for the government to intervene. It is time for the government to step in to avoid security threat. If possible INEC should be responsible for our elections and how directors are appointed. It is a shame that we have not achieved anything except threats and bluffings. Most people will be thinking that if government interfere, it will reduce our power and please I ask you, when they didn't interfere what have we achieved with our powers.


We have lost the glory and pride. Student organisations in other countries are celebrating various victories, how their mates are given administrative roles. Student organisations in other countries are celebrating years of peaceful election without violence, we are here disrupting our convention.
I see hope and I believe that NANS shall surely resurrect after revolution.

Lawal Sodiq Adewale Chocomilo
Director
Institute of Readers and Thinkers