IPC Boss To FG, University Authorities: You Are Responsible For The Crisis In NANS

The Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade has accused the Military Government and the authorities of the Nigeria Universities of been responsible for the leadership crisis that has over the years engulfed the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in the Country and which has deeply polarised its ranks and files thereby making it to lose focus.

The IPC boss, Mr. Lanre Arogundade dropped the message on Monday at the public presentation of his new book titled “Breaking Coconut With Your Head (Akowe’s Journey In Student Unionism)” and his 60th birthday celebration held at The Events Centre located beside the popular African Shrine in Ikeja, Lagos State.

According to Arogundade, who was also the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, in 1984/85 at the time President Muhammadu Buhari was the Military Head of State as well as the former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council recalled his days in NANS that the Federal Government and the University Authorities usually sponsored cultists to attack the outspoken leaders of the Students Union which eventually culminated into its present condition today.

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Arogundade added that the current generation of the Students Union leaders in the Country are not allowed to enjoy the same freedom they enjoyed in their own time.

In our days as Presidents of NANS, and as Presidents of a local Students Union, we have to present our budgets to the Students Representative Council, SRC and to the Congress, where members of the Congress and the SRC, will come around and ask you questions for every money you spent and it’s important you have to account for it. And where you are found guilty of corruption, the students representative council and the Congress, will try you and impeach you”.

Continuing, Arogundade maintained, that, “through such procedures and processes, they do boost that they are capable of holding government accountable during the period”.

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“He therefore advocate that, for the NANS of today to be sanitized, accountability had to start from the local level. We have to return to that tradition if we are going to contribute to the rebuilding of our educational system”.

He scolded the University Authorities across the Country for not allowing the Students Union leaders in their domain to do anything without the approval of the Vice Chancellors.

He argued that Students Union are meant to be pressure groups and left alone to learn the ropes of how to run a mini government and a ground for breeding intellectual groups who will be the tomorrow leaders.

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Meanwhile in the 241 pages of the new book launched by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, titled: “Breaking Coconut With Your Head (Akowe’s Journey In Student Unionism); and divided into 12 Chapters, with epilogue, and dedicated to heroes in students movement and activism such as Segun Aderemi, founding General Secretary of the Democratic Socialist Movement; Christopher Fajemifo, the Progressive President of the University of Ife Students’ Union in 1982/83; Chris Abashi, his Lanre Arogundade’s precedessor as President of NANS for 1982/83 and Chima Ubani, first General Secretary of Campaign for Democracy and former President of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union for 1986/87.

Lanre Arogundade in his new book gave his detailed experience during his days in the Students’ movement Chapter by chapter as follows: ‘The Morning Illuminates The Day – Chapter 1’, ‘From Sidelines To Sec-Gen – Chapter 2’, ‘The Road To NANS – Chapter 3’, ‘Sweating In The Cold On The Plateau – Chapter 4’, ‘Confronting Unexpected Military Coup – Chapter 5’ and ‘Stamping Authority – Chapter 6’.

Others include: ‘Hitting The Ground Running – Chapter 7’, ‘Fees: Confrontation, Boycott & Proscription – Chapter 8’, ‘Defiance Has A Price Tag – Chapter 9’, ‘Fake Slip, Abduction & Detention – Chapter 10’, ‘The Journey To (Watch List) – Chapter 11’, ‘Graduation, Other Struggles & Memorable Returns To NANS & Ife – Chapter 12’ and the Epilogue ‘Looking Back To Leap Forward’ made the entire new book very thick, interesting, educating, informing and memorable.

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