Connect with us

Politics

Ondo govt denies NANS’ claim that Akeredolu asked students to ‘go to hell’ over fees increment

Published

on

Thugs invade Ondo House of Assembly, attack lawmakers, staff, journalists

Ondo state government on Thursday reacted to the account by the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) of an encounter with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, describing it as false fabrications.

NANS president, Bamidele Akpan, had earlier given details of a meeting with Gov. Akeredolu which was to demand reversal of the increment in the tuition fee of the four state-owned higher institutions.

He claimed the governor displayed the “highest level of arrogance by telling us to go to hell, that his decision is final and that he is not going to reduce the school fees”.

Among other things, Akpan alleged that the governor walked out on the students and that the students were tear-gassed.

READ ALSO: Nigerian students demand revision of school fees within 24 hours

However, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, (CPS) to the governor, Segun Ajiboye, described the NANS president’s statement as ‘distorted’ claims about the details of the meeting between the governor and the students.

Ajiboye said “We are compelled to put the records straight because of the attempt of the Akpan leadership of NAN to deceive innocent Nigerians.

“It may interest you to know that the NANS leadership was received by the governor in his office despite a very tight schedule of the day, which began with a State Executive Council meeting that lasted till about 7pm.

 “When eventually he was ushered in to meet the governor, Akpan used the first 30 minutes to talk about personal matters. He would later plead with the governor to allow other members of his team to join the meeting, a request that the governor also obliged.

“The governor listened to their requests and took his time to explain the situation. He explained that the decision to increase the fee was solely that of the institution, but that as a father, he had intervened and directed that all the students should be allowed to write the tests and examinations.

“Several times during the meeting, even as the governor would be talking, Akpan would interrupt and insist that he be allowed to speak. Then, he threatened that he would make the state ungovernable for the governor with protests.

“At that stage, the governor said it was the right of the students to stage protest to press home their demands, but advised that such protest should be organised peacefully without the destruction of both private and public property.

“The NANS president would not allow the governor to talk, as he continued to speak and shout obscenities and threats of war, all these happened right inside the office of the governor.

“He urged the governor to come downstairs to see the bus he came with, which he said was given to him by the governor of Abia State. He boasted about how many governors have received him with gifts,” Ajiboye clarified.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now