GREAT IFE STUDENTS’ UNION
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA OVER THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY
The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, hereby uses
this medium to register our dissatisfaction over the ridiculous state
of our nation which has been characterized by teeming youth
unemployment, financial misappropriation, snail-like political progress,
staggering economy, and massive looting of our commonwealth by the
ruling class. The current situation of our country can be aptly likened
to a clueless and terribly damaged one with no specific direction. It is
very disheartening that a country blessed with viable human resources
as well as boundless natural resources cannot boldly boast of a
reasonable level of youth employment, 21st Century education system,
world-class security network, present-day social amenities among other
indices of economic development.
It is unfortunate that the
Buhari-led Federal Government administration has displayed a total
disregard for educational needs of Nigerian children and youth by
allocating less than 7% of the total budgetary allocation presented to
the National Assembly contrary to 26% budgetary benchmark recommended by
UNESCO. With this ridiculous budget allocated to the education sector,
it is apparent that students will continue to receive classes under
terrible and animalistic learning conditions; there will be further
infrastructural decadence, unstable academic calendars (as paucity of
fund will necessarily spur industrial actions from ASUU, ASUP and other
stakeholders that are committed to righting the wrongs of the FG), etc.
However,
our nation is not only bedeviled by the impecunious amount of money
allocated to the, arguably, most important sector of the economy.
Another great cause for worry is the inactiveness and cluelessness of
the Federal Government of Nigeria in tackling the menace of insecurity
in the country which has inadvertently led to loss of countless lives,
destruction of property and subsequent displacement of millions of
Nigerians. The Fulani herdsmen’s killings and wanton destruction of
farms of hardworking Nigerians (mostly Southerners) are on the increase
without any effective measure being put in place by the Federal
Government in curbing their excesses. We find this very disheartening
and painful. This situation has further compounded the level of havoc
wreaked on millions of Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect.
Also,
Great Ife Students’ Union condemns the tactical killing of the
#NotTooYoungToRunBill by the National Assembly after the historic bill
had scaled through the huddles of first and second readings. No excuse
is logical or sufficient enough to justify the obnoxious and parochial
decision of the National Assembly for preventing the bill from becoming a
law. It is a well-orchestrated attempt by the ruling class to exclude
the youths from participating actively in the governance of the country.
By removing the age barrier which has inhibited countless industrious
and purpose-driven Nigerian youths from standing the chance of being
elected into political offices, the bill (if passed to law) would have
encouraged fresh intellectual initiatives, coordination, and clearheaded
policy formulation mechanism that will herald massive development in
the country.
Finally, we are using this platform to demand
the presidency to make public the health condition of President
Muhammadu Buhari following his rather protracted sojourn in the United
Kingdom for a couple of months now. It is impossible for some
individuals who do not sum up to 2% of the total population of the
country to keep fooling us by perpetuating the masses in the dark as
regards the facts surrounding the health of Mr. President. As promised
by the APC that they would be open and accountable in all their
dealings, we challenge them to tell Nigerians the truth about the actual
health condition of Mr. President.
OUR DEMANDS
1. We demand that the 2017 budget be reconsidered for
review in order to accommodate disbursement of additional fund to the
Education Sector so as to cater for educational demands of Nigerians and
then tackle issues of infrastructure deficit, understaffing, etc.
Failure to attend to this national cry shall attract nationwide media
campaign against the Federal Government of Nigeria for their
insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian students across all levels2. We demand the Federal Government to be more proactive in combating insecurity in Nigeria
3.
We demand the federal Government of Nigeria to immediately look into
the rehabilitation of Ibadan-Ife road which has been a death trap to
travelers for more than a decade4. We demand the Federal
Government of Nigeria to take a serious measure towards curbing the
incessant attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen5. We demand the Presidency to make public the health condition of President Muhammadu Buhari
6.
We demand the Federal Government as well as local and state governments
owing workers to start paying up as nonpayment of workers’ salaries has
greatly exacerbated the living condition of Nigerian students across
all campuses7. We demand the Minister of Education to facilitate
and implement policies that will bring about exponential improvement in
the sector.
Signed:
Okediji Simon (ZUMA)
Public Relations Officer, Great Ife Students’ Union
Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa (FYNESTBOI)
Secretary General, Great Ife Students’ Union
Oyekan Ibukun Edward (DR IBK)
President, Great Ife Students’ Union