NASS LEADERSHIP: Nigerian students send stern warning to Oshiomhole

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has frowned over alleged move by the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, to impose his candidates as principal officers of the 9th National Assembly.

The students’ union has therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call Oshiomhole to order and warn him against going ahead with his alleged imposition plot.

The union gave this warning on Thursday when its members staged a protest at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

They also called on the ruling APC, to without delay convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and ensure Oshiomhole is issued a stern warning.

NANS Senate President, Gambo Mohammed, who addressed newsmen during the protest argued that going by the principle of federal character, no part of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria should be marginalized especially with regards to principal positions of the National Assembly.

An eight-paragraph protest letter he dropped at the party secretariat to be given to Oshiomhole read in part:

“The leadership of the Senate NANS, acting closely with the Coalition of Youths Organization, having met and thoroughly examined the underlying dynamics in the election of the 9th National Assembly, and arising from a critical stakeholders meeting where it deliberated on matters arising at the National Assembly, have resolved that our lives begin to end the day we keep mute on the things that matter to us.

“History has it that the imposition of candidates was a key factor that destroyed the PDP, thus NANS Senate hereby cautions the leadership of APC to tread carefully on the imposition of sponsored candidates as this negatively impact their ratings and public image, while threatening the coherence of the 9th National Assembly.

“Having zoned the Senate presidency to the North East, in clear accordance with the preamble of the APC constitution, the best practice is to allow all inherently qualified members thereto to participate in the election. NANS Senate is well aware of the inherent imposition which holds sway at party levels, but is of the position that party politics imposition is not superior to what is constitutionally established.

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“While NANS Senate is of the opinion that the leadership of the National Assembly at all time should be a matter with no bearing on party imposition, it concedes that our experience as a people has been that the majority party holds the trump card in these matters as stated earlier. This reiteration is to drive home the point that Nigerians are looking up to the APC to set the right template for emulation by other arms and tiers of government.”

A copy of the protest letter was also taken to Lagos House in Asokoro, to be handed to national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Inscriptions on some of the placards displayed by the students during the protest read: The “No to open balloting at 9th Senate and Reps election”, “Asiwaju Tinubu, as a democrat, allow each candidate to ride on his/ her credibility”, “Adams Oshiomhole, you are derailing our hard-earned democracy”.

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