The
National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) yesterday accused President
Goodluck Jonathan of being the brain behind the Rivers State crisis.
It
described Jonathan’s earlier denial of involvement in the crisis as false.
NANS
said: “President Goodluck Jonathan must stop distancing himself from the matter
because, whether he likes it or not, he is vicariously involved in it. The
direct involvement of the First Lady in the matter, which she publicly admitted
to when 16 Bishops from the Southsouth paid her a visit at the Presidential
Villa last week, implies Mr. President’s tacit involvement in it. Therefore,
Mr. President cannot continue to feign ignorance or indifference in this
sensitive matter.”
According
to a statement in Abuja by its Acting Senate President, Comrade John Shima,
NANS gave the President and the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to
resolve the crisis.
Failure
to heed to the ultimatum, the group said, “NANS shall be left with no option
than to convene its next Senate Meeting at Port Harcourt, where it shall take a
more decisive position and action on the Rivers State crisis”. “For the benefit
of foresight, the action may include taking over the city of Abuja and
paralysing all economic, social and political activities in the nation’s
capital.”
NANS
demanded that “adequate security is provided for the Rivers State House of
Assembly, so that the legislators can return to work”. “If that is done, then
the majority will have their way and progress will be made, which is the true
beauty of democracy.
NANS
called for “the immediate redeployment of the Rivers State Commissioner of
Police (CP) Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, who from every indication has gone political”.
“Since he has clearly shown that he cannot work harmoniously with the governor,
then the CP should be redeployed immediately from the state. NANS hereby
declares a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria and all its
relevant organs to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.”
The
statement added: “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in
keeping up with its traditional obligations as the bastion of democracy and
vanguard of the oppressed and downtrodden, hereby condemns in its entirety, the
show of ignominy unfolding in Rivers State, which culminated in the ferocious
disruption of proceedings at the State’s House of Assembly on Tuesday 9th July,
2013.
“We
are, however, not oblivious of the fact that the festering crisis in the state
has its roots in the acrimonious quest by the First Lady, Dame Patience
Jonathan, to practically dictate to the ‘obstinate’ Executive Governor of
Rivers State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, how he should run
certain affairs in Rivers State.
“Even
though President Goodluck Jonathan can also not be said to be inculpable in the
matter, he is also a member of the PDP and from the neighbouring Bayelsa State.
So, we actually hope that the PDP would use its internal mechanisms to bring
this lingering problem to end.
“We
must bear in mind that the situation in Rivers State depicts a huge threat to
the security of the state and, by extrapolation, the entire nation. The
Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has since made
public, his own feelings of insecurity. There were reports last week of the
deployment of policemen to the Rivers State Government House and the Rivers
State Liaison Office in Abuja respectively, without the knowledge and approval
of the state governor. That action by the police authorities is highly
condemnable.
“Mr.
President should not forget that his cardinal responsibility to the state and
its citizens is the provision of security for human lives and properties. This includes
the lives of state governors and other high-profile individuals. Governor
Amaechi has publicly declared that he is not comfortable with the Commissioner
of Police in Rivers State, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu.
We wonder why the
Inspector-General of Police is reluctant to redeploy Mr. Mbu from the state.
Mbu clearly gave a clue in an interview with a national television station that
he works at cross-purposes with Governor Amaechi.
“The
President’s thumbprint is firmly embedded in the ongoing crisis in Rivers
State.
NANS wakes up with uneducated minds and cultists heading it to give meanings to what shouldn't be given meaning to.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, in what way does the first lady as an indigene of Rivers state asking for the governor of her state to consult with the people before destroying part of a community wrong?
secondly, in what way does that consign the president when a citizen of a state gives a
suggestion to a sitting governor of such a state?
Thirdly, has there been any of the parties involved in the Rivers state crisis who has said Patience Jonathan or the president ordered their misbehaviour?
Lastly, i think NANS needs re-education. I think this is part of the reason why the Universities should be closed down to enable the govt fix the ailing system and produce better political young minds and not the time in charge of NANS at the moment who seem to be leaning more to the side of the highest bidder instead of looking at facts objectively.