Our lives matter: NANS decries Osun political crisis, calls for campus shutdown

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, has called for the temporary closure of tertiary institutions across Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The association cited growing security concerns.

It also gave the Osun State Government, security agencies and heads of tertiary institutions a seven-day ultimatum to engage with student leaders on measures to protect students during the election period.

Speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Friday, the Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah, said the position was reached in collaboration with recognised student leadership structures across the state.

“We reached this decision after receiving reports from Students’ Union Governments, campus leaders and other stakeholders about rising political tension in communities where many students live,” he said.

Josiah said the association’s main concern was that students are innocent members of society and should not become victims of political violence simply because they are pursuing their education in Osun State.

He stressed that the association’s recommendation was not politically motivated or intended to interfere with the powers of government or school authorities.

Josiah argued that while academic activities could be adjusted, the lives of students could not be replaced.

He said academic calendars could be adjusted, lectures rescheduled and examinations postponed, but stressed that no academic activity was more important than the life of a student. He added that it was better to take preventive measures now than to mourn avoidable deaths later.

“We believe dialogue is the most responsible way to address this issue, but it must lead to concrete action that guarantees the safety of students,” he said.

The student leader warned that if the association does not receive a satisfactory response within seven days, it will begin lawful and peaceful actions in consultation with student leaders across the state.

“Should there be no meaningful engagement or satisfactory response within this period, NANS Southwest Zone D, in consultation with recognised student leadership across Osun State, shall announce and commence lawful, peaceful and democratic actions considered necessary to protect the lives, welfare and constitutional rights of Nigerian students,” Josiah said.

Our lives matter: NANS decries Osun political crisis, calls for campus shutdown