15th June, 2016
”We find his comments appalling, condescending and highly provocative and as such demand an apology for this,” the association stated in a statement issued on Wednesday by Comrade Jeremiah Olatinwo, former NANS PRO, Zone D.
According to NANS, it is so shameful and sad that “those who criticize the new generation forget who raised it!
Here is the full statement:
The Nigerian Students’ community reject in totality the unguarded, discourteous and uncultured comments of the minister of transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi against the helmsman of NANS in the Southeast and South South region, Comrade Pedro Obi.
We find his comments appalling, condescending and highly provocative and as such demand an apology for this.
It is so shameful and sad that “those who criticize the new generation forget who raised it!
We recall the many “irresponsible and rascally behaviour” of the minister including his legendary penchant of throwing tantrums at the person and office of the immediate past President of our great nation – Dr. GOODLUCK EBELE Jonathan while in office.
His refusal to appoint a substantive Chief Judge and the plan to move the hallowed Rivers State House of Assembly to the Government house among other “rascally acts” are fresh in our memory.
Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amechi carelessly threw the baby away with the bath water. The coordinator only demanded fairness in the allocation of resources for capital expenditures so as to capture his zone wherein the nation gets 70% of its revenue. The lopsidedness in the 2016 budget is visible to the blind, audible to the deaf and tangible to the paralytic. Mr Amaechi’s totalitarian ideals has robbed him of the basic concept of common law that give property owners the title to all resources located above, below or upon their land. It is only in Nigeria that the butcher’s children eat bones and the baker’s children eat crumbs.
Making a case for true federalism and proper restructuring of the nation is a noble and honourable request. A good leader who has the interest of the nation at heart would listen and pick aptly and not make denigrating comments. At this time when the cords of our nation is losing its strength amidst the various calls for secession and self determination by various ethnic groups, character assassination and immature politicisation of salient matters shouldn’t be allowed.