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Thursday 7 September 2017

Anambra guber: Popular writer reacts as students stage walk for peaceful, credible poll

A popular writer, Tobenna Obiano has reacted to Students of various tertiary institutions in Nigeria of Anambra origin who on Wednesday, staged a peaceful walk in Awka, the state capital for a free, fair and credible governorship election on November 18.
The students under the aegis of National Union of Anambra State Students (NUASS) marched along major streets of Awka with placards to depict their quest for a peaceful election in the state.

But on the contrary, a writer from the region, Mr Tobenna Obiano has this to say below:

Attention: National Union of Anambra State Students, NUASS.

Dear students and friends,

I write as a kindred soul brother. I write because if I fail to speak up or advise you, it would be wrong on my own part. At least, as a former member of this union back in the days and as a stakeholder in my own right and privileges as an Anambra youth.

Nothing equates the collective push for any reason ever at all. Fact is, once the youth decide and march for a unique purpose, wonders begin to happen. The Aluta spirit of Nigerian undergraduates resonates wonders when it comes calling, for boundaries are broken while barriers are brought down. 

I wonder and would want to make verifications. Has ASUU strike been called off? I don't think so. Personally, I can't be writing and pushing against the insensitivity of the APC-led Federal Government about the ongoing ASUU strike which has now become more like a ritual that must be performed every four years and you guys aren't protesting about it. Even Doctors have joined in the strike for sympathy-sake. Somehow, it seems you guys don't actually care. You can remain at home for all they care!

The road leading to Ifite by UNIZIK backgate was in a deplorable way. I saw students' and the locals level of suffrage, and I wrote that Anambra State Government should immediately come to work on that road, students didn't proceed on peaceful mass protests to get the Government fix this road. Infact, when street lights were lighted up by Nigerian music star, Flavour on the inviatation of Anambra State Governor ahead of the opening of a petrol station which also has a fast food, student union leaders from UNIZIK before the Governor were singing and dancing like a Messiac goodness has been brought to them, instead of respectfully requesting that Ifite road be fixed.

Today, I learnt that students under this union or organization came out in droves to proceed on a peaceful march in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, for a non-violent and peaceful Anambra State Gubernatorial elections come November 18th.

While young undergraduates are marching for a peaceful elections in Anambra State, people of Rivers State, majorly young people and undergraduates almost at thesame time came out in thousands and in solidarity, are also marching for WIKE on the streets of PortHarcourt for what they claim to be a sterling performance in governance. That they stand for and with Governor Wike. It's okay to stand and push for what you believe in or what satisfies you or what pays your bills, but we should at all times be guided by principles of integrity. We shouldn't allow unnecessary bias or sentiments or crass ignorance or foolish to becloud us.

I'm heartbroken by the stand and state of our Nigerian institutions. Lecture halls which ordinarily should be made to contain 50 to 70 students would have over 350 students jam-parked like cans of sardine without proper cross ventilation and even hangers on from the windows attending to lecturers. What is the state of our libraries? How many Nigerian universities have internet connection and free wifi wired right round their institutions? Even common hygiene, how clean are our campuses from classrooms to restrooms to hostels and hallways.

What about welfare of Professors? What about the students' hostels and security apparatus on-campus and off-campus? We hear and read of sorting of various standards, monies for marks or sexcapades for marks. What about the issues of cultism within our campuses? What of examination malpractices, drug abuse and even indecent dressing? 

Ofcourse the Nigerian political class and few privileged ones wouldn't allow their wards to pass through Nigerian institutions because of the level at which it stands from time. I passed through same process, but the tales of or from my undergraduate university years are better left undiscussed, many of us are witnesses. 

I'm particularly worried by the pool of students Nigerian universities graduates every year, these are many employable yet unemployed graduates. I'm worried by the statistics as to the rate of unemployment of today and as records show, nearly 3.5million Nigerians have lost their jobs in the last three years alone. 

As an individual, I'm worried on how our political leaders use fellow young people, mainly even amongst undergraduates as political mercenaries, where they become cyber-bullies and e-thugs yet they are fed with crumbs that fall-off the table of these powerful politicians or are merely paid stipends. 

I'm worried at the rate of violent crime in our society. It's sad that crime rate is slowly returning to Anambra State and are still perpetuated and perfected all over Nigeria where most times, young people are the actual perpetuators of those evil. There is armed robbery, there are cases of rape, internet fraud, thuggery, kidnapping, oil bunkering, arson attacks, murder, ritual killing and many others. All these are done by young people. It worries me beyond words.

It's fine to request for a peaceful electioneering and campaign process at home in Anambra State, it's good and one must commend those who initiated and actually involved in this campaign and move. But then also, there were or have been or still are more worrying basics or say, integrals that young Anambra nay Nigerian undergraduates ought to push for, but for electioneering and campaigns. 

Students can't be home-bound because of striking lecturers and they take to the streets to protest peacefully or not, for elections and campaigns. It's first things first and I personally think that for now, this is immature, untimely, ill-advised and a case of bad prioritizing. 

Apologies just in case I get misunderstood. But, as a senior brother and a friend on this path from grass through grace and a push for glory, I only shared my thoughts. Take this home or save it in a bank, you see our class of Nigerian politicians, they may not actually hate us, but fact is, they don't either care or give a damn about you!

Be guided and please, stay out of trouble.

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