National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Leaders At War!

A war is currently brewing among the leadership of Nigeria’s foremost students association, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

In what appears to be like a statement outlining his achievements in office, the outgoing factional NANS President, Comr. Aruna Kadiri has taken a swipe at his critics, calling them pigs who would never change.

The statement which was released weekend enumerated his giant strides for the Students community in the last seventeen months and urged his critics to desist from campaign of calumny against him.

In the Press statement, the Students' Leader took his close ally and else while campaign manager, one Comr. Armstrong Ovie-Afabor to the cleaners describing him as a frustrated man whose appetite for money and material things has become insatiable.

He noted that, Ovie-Afabor has remained perpetually ungrateful and demanding despite being one of the greatest   beneficiaries of his (Kadiri's) benevolence.

"One would expect that a piece that gives analysis comparatively will look at what NANS is known for.

It is no news that I led a team to Turkey to release over fifty Nigerian Students, Ph.D inclusive.

I Negotiated scholarship for some of them.

First Bank defrauded 90% of (Federal College of Education) F.C.E Zaria, (Kaduna State) Students, I led a struggle there with the help of Zaria comrades and today we know the story.

I stood up against South Africa during the xenophobia attack on Nigerians and other blacks.

 Shot down South Africa business empires here in Nigeria nationwide for one week."  Kadiri's Press Statement read in part.

The statement further noted that he "led struggle against the leadership of the N.Y.S.C on 30% mobilisation of our graduates. That's why we still have full mobilisation till date".

Apparently referring to Comr. Armstrong Ovie-Afabor, Mr. Kadiri opined that he  "also fought for the reduction of N.Y.S.C internet fees. That was why you (Ovie-Afabor) could send me 5 names for posting and redeployment.

I guess you have finished eating the monies you collected from them".

 Kadiri, who is currently a student of the University of Benin further boasted in his press release that he "led a struggle against Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (A.S.U.U), gave them two weeks to reopen our classrooms. And before the expiration of the two weeks, the both reached an agreement and schools were reopened.

I have presented 8 papers in both Senate and the House of Representatives on different national issues.

Presented our position in two different national security summits.

Reinstated countless politically victimized students . Brought Students' Unions where they never existed in some of our campuses"

Ironically, the NANS leader however ascribed some of these successes to Comr. Ovie-Afabor and apologised for his inability to meet his (Ovie-Afabor's) humongous and undying greed and his endless demands for financial assistance.

He urged him to pick up the courage to contest for an elective position in NANS rather than pushing his numerous financial burdens to others.

"Am sorry if I couldn't meet all your many financial burdens, but my advice for you is to get a job so you can adequately take care of your lovely family.

NANS can no longer do all of this for you. It’s no longer make common sense to rely on NANS to cater for all your huge financial challenges. 

If these are not what is leading to your frustration, I will advise you to meet me as a friend so we can together look into your problems.

Better still, since you see NANS as a means of survival, you have started a programme at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa-Ibom (UNIZIK), why not pick a form and contest for any position even if it's the position of an ex-officio... But, I can bet that you will not win, not because am a god, but because in NANS, everybody knows you. 

Even those clapping their hands and hailing you. Try it. Same goes to some persons here.

NANS can no longer feed you".

He also spared a space to apologise to those who may find his statement offensive. 

He noted: "For those that will be angry that I responded..., I apologize. 

This is the first time and may be the last I will (release this kind of statement).

Am expecting your insults and lies. A pig will always remain a pig. God bless us all. The veteran NANS leader concluded. 

In his reaction, Armstrong Ovie-Afabor, debunked the allegations of rapacious greed and endless demands for money against him and pooh-poohed the NANS' Leader claims of superlative performance in his almost 18 months of his factional leadership of NANS. He described Kadiri as a colossal failure who should be ashamed of himself. 

In a statement issued almost immediately after that of the NANS President, he fired back at Kadiri and challenged him to a public debate. 

"For the purpose of clarity, I challenge Aruna Kadiri to come before the public and swear his Holy Korean that he has ever at anytime given me one naira to aid my rentage, if he had ever given me one naira to aid to my children or wards school fees. 

I knew only last year that Aruna Kadiri is an astute liar but it doesn't worry me"

Ovie-Afabor further claim that the only money he got from Kadiri was when he sought his (Ovie-Afabor's) support for his NANS presidential ambition.

He asked: "Have you given me money in the past? Yes! 

And that was only when you started lobbying me to support your presidential ambition. 

Did you give me money after (the botched) Gombe and Abuja Conventions? Yes, and that was because your conscience kept fighting you that you were not meeting with the agreement that made you NANS President.

You never gave me over 5,000 naira at anytime except on issues that I had direct input in your involvement".

The statement further alleged that he (Ovie-Afabor) helped the NANS president to facilitate the collection of large sums of money from various institutions but got paltry sums.

"On my complain to the Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin that you were not supported (during your electioneering), he asked me to tell you to write and you were given 3.7 million naira. So, if you give me 5,000 naira out of that, have you helped me? 

You didn't know how to enter into the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, (A.A.U) crisis (last year), I showed you what to do and gave you the contact of the Vice-Chancellor after I had engaged him with maximum force.

You collected 1 million naira and shared 3,000 naira each to about 30 persons and gave me 50,000 naira, (is that your money?)

You collected 5 million naira against the advice and negotiations that would have led to a reduction in fees in A.A.U and squandered the money. If you extended 50,000 naira to me, was it your money and was that what we agreed you should do there?" He queried.

The statement which was all over the social media and got Students and NANS stakeholders talking at the weekend further alleged that the NANS President purportedly schemed out Ovie-Afabor and others from a deal the latter initiated and brought it the former. 

"If we brought you into a deal with an insurance company and you collected millions of naira to sponsor your Senate (meeting) outing in Ibadan and gave me 20,000 naira later, was it your money? Did you not scheme me out of an arrangement we brought you into? 

If there is anyone who is currently feeding off NANS, you, Kadiri Aruna is the one. 

You have failed woefully and you should be ashamed of yourself".

The statement concluded.

An impeccable source who is close to both parties and would not want to be named revealed to Sololoaded that efforts are being made to reconcile the warring parties. 

"They have both been told to cease fire and jettison the war of words especially on the social media, other stakeholders are making efforts to bring peace between them to avoid further breakdown of relationship. NANS is big enough to cater for everybody but for the greed of a minority". The source stated.

In his reaction, a foremost Students' leader and Youth Advocate, Barr. Itote Damisa described the altercation between the duo as totally shameful and embarrassing. 

He lamented the despicable State of Students' activism in Nigeria and called for a sober reflection and mind renewal. 

"For me, I am bewildered at these revelations of financial impropriety in NANS and the monetisation of Students' movement in Nigeria. It is disheartening, shameful and completely embarrassing. 

I call for serious sober reflection and genuine mind renewal if government and school authorities across the country must take students seriously. 

The oldies and non students must immediately leave the student's organisation for the real and genuine students. 

They can act as mentors and guidance, but their active involvement has done more harm than good to contemporary students' movement. 

Some of these NANS leaders already in their early or late 40s have kids who are in Secondary Schools. They must therefore leave the stage willingly for genuine and younger students or be disgraced out of the stage", he stated firmly.

CREDIT: Sololoaded