2023: Students’ group slam APC over ASUU strike, insecurity

Nigerian students under the aegis of Atiku-Okowa Students Movement (AOSM) have berated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the continued strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the raging insecurity across the country.

Rising from a meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, the group lamented the continued ASUU strike, unabating insecurity and effect of foreign exchange on students in foreign studies.

In a communique read by National Chairman of the group, Comrade Ehiwario Jerry, the group called on Nigerians to support the PDP ticket of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to rescue the nation from the inept leadership and maladministration of the APC led federal government.

The group which is coordinated by the Forum of Aides to PDP Governors on Student’s Affairs, said “arising from the challenges facing the Education sector in Nigeria, ranging from poor infrastructures to recurrent strikes that has affected smooth running of academic activities in the country.

“It is abnormal for our students to spend more than six months at home, due to failure of the APC led administration to honor its agreement with ASUU that have impacted negatively on the educational system and altered the academic calendar of tertiary institutions, assuring that “Students will not spend six to seven years studying courses that would have taken them four years again in Nigeria when Atiku and Okowa emerge as President and Vice President respectively.”

The group also condemned in strong terms the unabating insecurity ranging from kidnapping, banditry and terrorism across the country and called on Nigerians to reject the APC in the 2023 general election for failing to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

“We condemn the security challenges and poor security infrastructure across the country, spate of killings and kidnappings across the country notably our campuses and schools, this no doubt have made our institutions of learning unsafe and education unattractive in this APC-led Federal Government.

“We also condemn the unabated high rise of the exchange rate, which is as a result of poor management and handling of the economy by the present administration. This mismanagement has caused untold hardship for our beloved students in diaspora, leading to discontinuation of studies in most cases.

“It is important to state that this is a gathering of the forum of all Aides to PDP Governors on Students’ Affairs and selected key Students Leaders both serving and past student leaders across the country, coming under one umbrella “ATIKU/OKOWA STUDENTS MOVEMENT“.

“We have decided to meet today in Asaba and after a successful session, we have decided to throw our weight and support for the Atiku/Okowa ticket come 2023.

“We therefore state that this is a passionate appeal and clarion call on the entire Nigeria students to join force in supporting the Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for President and Vice President in a bid to rescue Nigeria and restore her lost glory.

“It is noteworthy to state that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa have made greater investments in the educational system in Nigeria more than other candidates.

“We want to place on record our deep appreciation to all the PDP Governors for their resilience, most especially Gov. Emmanuel Udom, Gov. Nyesom Wike, Gov. Bala Mohammed and other Presidential Aspirants in the last National Special Convention, for their spirit of sportsmanship and unwavering commitment and efforts in sustaining the party, which is now the hope of Nigerians, to rescue the country from APC mismanagement and poor governance.

“Finally, it is imperative to state that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has the experience to make Nigeria work again coupled with the remarkable achievements Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has recorded in the educational sector of his State by upgrading three institutions to full fledged Universities, taking staff and students welfare as priority which has made academic activities to run smoothly in Delta State.

“We there use this medium to signal the beginning of mass mobilization of entire Nigerian Students across the Federation for this historic RESCUE MISSION anchored on ATIKU/OKOWA PROJECT 2023.” the group stated.