By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) on Thursday, described a statement credited to the President of Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan for allegedly asking protesting students not to use their protest to disrupt political activities as height of Insensitivity .
A statement by the Chairman ASUU University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Akinwole accused the Senate Presidentof allegedly working against the future of the children of masses in Nigeria.
Professor Akinwole noted as a presidential aspirant under his party, Senator Lawn has not even shown the capacity to solve problems by not knowing the importance of education over political activities, saying, ASUU had lobbied the National Assembly to prevent the strike but the legislative chamber were not forthcoming forcing the Union to take the fate of her members in its hands,
” It is inconceivable for a Senate President to see political activities as more important than having students back to learn and develop the society. The Union, ASUU, informed, lobbied and appealed to the Senate to avert the strike but they were not forthcoming. We see a house loyal to the ruling political elites and not to Nigeria”, he said.
The ASUU Chairman added, ” to this set of politicians, anything can suffer but their access to common treasury. That is a sign of irresponsibility. Has their own welfare issues not been taken care of?. I salute the resolve of the Nigerian students to fight for their own right.”
” Education is a right and not a privilege. The youth, Nigerian students have an inalienable right be concerned and take actions they considered appropriate to secure their future. “
He stressed that it was inconceivable for a high ranking political office holder to prioritise political activities over education saying the consequences in their alleged inactions has caused the country to toe the path of retrogression.
Professor Akinwole lamented that it was unfortunate that political office holders in the country are having their children school abroad, adding that Nigerian students should own their struggle and take over their destiny.
According to Professor Akinwole stated that the best way to destroy a country is by destroying education which is what the ruling class among whom the senate president is are pursuing with ferocious vigour .
New Nigerian recalls that ASUU started a strike on February 14 this year to obtain new conditions of service, funding for public universities, deployment of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) among others.
