Matters Arising.
I
read with amusement Mr. Bright Okoebor's post on his review of the activities
of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and its leaders.
According
to him, his conclusion was that some of the leaders of NANS do not deserve his
respect because of their greed, deceit and rapacious attitude.
He
equally urged them to immediately expel themselves from Students' politics to
focus on fatherhood and being great husbands to their wives.
He
fell short of shouting at the rooftop; "Leave Students' politics for real
and genuine students and desist from being perpetual students".
While
condemning some of the alleged leaders of NANS, he singled out a few others for
commendation!
I
couldn't help but laugh out loud over Okoebor's post.
I
think Bright Okoebor and several of us must also find a way to leave students'
politics.
We
must avoid the tendency to hide under Students' Union Movement to perpetuate
unholy acts of commercialization of Unionism and chronic greed. One of my friends has tagged it cash and carry Unionism.
We
are wont to only voice out our grievances, pains and dissatisfaction when the
'spoils' do not get to us.
We
keep quiet if we are beneficiaries of the bounty.
Sadly,
people like my wonderful friend, Mr. Richard Ekhutu, (the immediate past Deputy Coordinator, NANS Zone B) will sanctimoniously and
vociferously rise in blind defense of treachery while others like my Edo North
brother, Mr. Kassim Kadiri, a.k.a Kass (whom I doubt if I have met before) will
sit by a corner of his sitting room and scornfully laugh at Ekhutu.
Kadiri,
from what I gathered is a Personal Assistant and direct younger to the NANS
President, Aruna Kadiri.
The
Kadiri brothers certainly know what is going in the organization and as such it
won’t be unusual for the younger Kadiri to look on Ekhutu pitiably for obvious lack
of knowledge of the happenings in his dear NANS.
Until
we learn to always insist on the truth, we won't go forward as a people,
because we will always remain hindered and encumbered.
Truth
must be upheld always whether or not it pleases you and no matter whose ox is
gored.
If
we don't insist on the truth, we will all lack the moral rectitude, honesty,
probity, sincerity, nobility, honour and uprightness to complain and or condemn
when things do not flow in our direction.
The
aftermath of not upholding sincerity and truthfulness can be catastrophic.
Not
saying the truth will always remain an albatross, impediment, Achilles heels,
restriction, regression and a stumbling block to progress in any organization in the long. This is where Nigeria has found herself.
However,
before we make allegations, we must verify, confirm and re-verify.
For
me, I have done my due diligence (especially as it concerns the recent A.A.U
imbroglio) and I stand by my earlier assertions; Students' Union movement in
Nigeria has been commercialized.
It's
as simple as that.
Itote
Damisa is a lawyer and a youth Advocate.
He
tweets via @Itotedamisa.
