The New Executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), sequel to the just concluded NANS elections has made some shocking revelations regarding the election process.
According to the address by the President Pedro Chibuzo Obi on 2nd December, 2023, "the NANS National Convention was slated for 27th - 30th November 2023 in Abuja and student leaders across tertiary Institutions mobilized themselves to Abuja for elections of a new leadership."
"Unfortunately, and as you may have seen, certain individuals masquerading as government agents picked unnecessary interest in our organization to the extent of making strong attempts at forcefully imposing unpopular leaders against popular choices of the students."
"Many biases such as political party affiliation, closeness to corridor of power and subtleness of candidates were considered."
"However, the fierce resolve of student leaders who gathered frustrated these inimical attempts at hijacking the leadership of the organisation."
"The senators resisted imposition of Mr. Seyi Tinubu’s candidate who is not a known student of any Tertiary Institution in Nigeria."
"The Department of State Security (DSS) was excessively deployed for partisan roles working for Mr Seyi Tinubu to determine who should enter the venue and who should not, unleashing mayhem on comrades and genuine students leaders who did not align with their ungodly interest, against all odds, Nigerian Students resisted all the intimidations, and elected the new Leadership of our organization now led by me Comrade Pedro Obi, a PhD student of the Delta State University, Abraka."
"The convention is successfully over and as espoused in my campaign manifesto, it is a new dawn for the students. The 3 C's, Capacity, Content and Competence which I promised to bring to bear will be fully deplored in serving and protecting the interest of Nigerian Students."
"This administration shall strive to work with utmost intellectual sagacity in resolving challenges that may confront us."
"We assure that we shall not be tools in individual's hands at the detriment of students interest. Ours shall solely be tailored to restoring order, dignity and elimination of all Anti educational policies against the students, as we collaborate with Federal Government and Government at all level to uplift the Nigeria educational sector."
"The convention is successfully over and as espoused in my campaign manifesto, it is a new dawn for the students. The 3 C's, Capacity, Content and Competence which I promised to bring to bear will be fully deplored in serving and protecting the interest of Nigerian Students."
"This administration shall strive to work with utmost intellectual sagacity in resolving challenges that may confront us. But we assure that we shall not be tools in individual's hands at the detriment of students interest."
"Ours shall solely be tailored to restoring order, dignity and elimination of all Anti educational policies against the students, as we collaborate with Federal Government and Government at all level to uplift the Nigeria educational sector."
"Let us at this junction call on the general public to give the necessary solidarity and support to the newly elected NANS President and his executives as we begin to consciously serve as the voice of the voiceless and genuinely defend the interest of Nigerian Students.
Soonest, we shall have reasons to invite you again for the unveiling of our irreducible minimum agenda for the administrative year for which we have been elected."
"On behalf of my executives, I thank Nigerian Students for their resilience, confidence reposed on us and urge them to support us as we journey along to reposition our beloved organisation-NANS."
While commending the Press for its collaboration with students movement over the years, Obi stated, "Your reportage of our activities no doubt has contributed greatly in shaping the National Association of Nigerian Students as an irrepellable voice in Nigeria. This efforts we do not take for granted."