From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The frosty relationship between the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone F and Hon. Chika Abazu, the Imo State Commissioner for Transport, over an alleged manipulative use of Police against students in the State has invoked the wraths of the students body with the group demanding for his immediate sack.
NANS made the clarion call in a press statement dated Monday 11th November, 2024 and endorsed by Comr. Okeke Kelvin, their Zonal Public Relations Officer, and was made available to news men in Owerri, including The Authority.
According to the release, “the Imo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Chika Abazu, led some team of Police men who obviously have nothing to do to effect the arrest of two NANS officers from the Zone under baseless guise.
“It is clear, that the Commissioner does not care, if he spoilt the cordial relationship that has been existing between the Imo State Government and the students’ community. Of course, the Commissioner, in his ignorance, does not know what it takes to build a relationship of that nature.
“The arrest of Nigerian students without any reasonable course of action is least expected from a man paid with the tax payers’ money. It may interest Mr. Abazu to know that, this organisation he is trying to ridicule and humiliate her officers was among the bodies that fought for the democracy he is enjoying today, let alone serving as Commissioner.
“Unfortunately, the Commissioner was not seen when Governor Hope Uzodimma had a pact with the students to support him for his second tenure. When leadership of NANS toured the nooks and crannies of the State, campaigning for his Excellency’s return, where was the Commissioner? Today, Mr. Chika Benson Abazu who is a product of benevolence nomination, is attacking those who secured his job.
“The truth is that, aside from the delinquency of Abazu as Commissioner for Transport, the students community is at peace with the government of most distinguished, Senator Hope Uzodimma,who is our National Patron. Therefore, we call on the Governor to sack the alleged non-performing Commissioner, because he does not understand the agenda of the Shared Prosperity mantra government”
Stressing that “we want to allude, that is why people of ideato Federal Constituency rejected him from holding elective position, is allegedly because of his high-handedness and crude character, imagine detaining those who did nothing to him just for the fun of a sad man, we were told that all entreaties from leaders in the State to him arrogantly fall on deaf ears”.
The PRO affirmed that NANS and Students Union Government,SUG, Intervention Transport Schemes can be found in all the States in the Federation where tertiary institutions exist. Unless the said Commissioner did not pass through the four walls of higher institution in the country, that may explain his alleged naive actions.
The scheme, they pointed out is an initiative by the unions to select some buses that a ply students’ routes and interconnect campuses, bringing students including other members of the academic community within and outside the campus communities.
“By so doing, those selected are branded with inscription of the said institution or union. The benefits associated with it include, but are not limited to, shedding the branded buses from the activities of touts who regularly molest drivers on the road. The drivers, in turn, reduce the cost of fare for Nigerian students” they stated.
However, the Imo State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Tuesday took a pivotal step towards again restoring its relationship with the state government.
In a notable shift towards the reconciliation, NANS has now opted to rebuild its connection with state authorities. In a public statement issued on Tuesday 12th November, 2024, the student body expressed regret over any potential misunderstandings that had stemmed from its earlier stance.
