The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has dissociated itself from the planned protest by the southwest Zone D chapter of the association over the recent hike in fuel pump price and electricity tariff.
The NANS Southwest zone D, led by one Kappo Samuel Olawale had given the federal government a five-day ultimatum to reverse the hike in the prices of fuel and electricity tariff.
The students insisted that if the government fails to reverse the prices, it would shut down the South-West states in a mass protest.
But, reacting to the threat, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NANS, Comrade Azeez Adeyemi disowned the Olawale – led group, describing it as “impostor”.
Adeyemi in a statement on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, insisted that the Olawale – led is not recognised by the national leadership of the students’ umbrella body.
He called on the Ogun State Police Command not to hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone caught disturbing the peace of the State under the guise of any protest.
According to Adeyemi, the national leadership of NANS had met in Abuja last Thursday where it was unanimously agreed that the federal government be given a stipulated date to reverse the hike in the pump price of fuel and electricity tariff failure to which NANS would stage a massive protest in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that NANS and other affiliate bodies had staged a protect in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital and other five southwest states last week Tuesday to register their displeasure on the issue.
He said, “The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) wishes to inform the general public that it is not part of any planned protest by a group of impostors who call themselves NANS SouthWest zone D, led by one Kappo Samuel Olawale.
“We want to put it on record that the umbrella body does not recognise the Olawale – led group and would not in any way be held responsible for their actions.
“No person should hide under NANS to disturb the peace of the State under any guise.
“This group of individuals are not authorised to carry out any protest in the name of NANS and we want to call on the Ogun State Police Command to be alive to its responsibility and arrest anyone caught during the planned protect”, Adeyemi said.
Meanwhile the Ogun State Police Command has warned members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) over the planned protest against the increased price of electricity and petrol.
In a press statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed that the protest is billed for Monday, September 14, 2020.
“The police is in receipt of reliable intelligence that some students are bent on disturbing the public peace in parts of Ogun state, starting from Monday 14th September 2020,” he said.
DSP Oyeyemi warned those who are being linked to the planned protest to have a rethink of their plan.
“In the course of identifying the persons involved and warn them against the planned action, a group of individuals who claim to be NANS executives South- West Zone D, led by one Kappo Samuel Olawale, in a letter addressed to the Command, has given the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to reverse the recent hike in fuel prices and electricity tariffs, threatening to unleash mayhem in Ogun state after the expiration of the ultimatum on Sunday 13th September 2020.”
According to the command’s spokesperson, the students also plan to block the Lagos/Ibadan and the Benin/ Ore expressway.
“It is part of their violent plans to block all major highways, including the Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Benin expressway, recruit miscreants, street urchins, hoodlums, expelled, suspended and perpetual students over-running their courses at tertiary institutions in Ogun State and other states from the South-West, to swell their ranks and ensure their desired objective of spreading violence in the State beginning from Monday 14th September is achieved”
He said any form of protest against the hike in prices as announced by the Federal Government is not welcomed and would be resisted.
“The decision by any group of students to embark on protest over a recent increase in fuel prices and electricity tariffs is unwarranted and therefore unacceptable to the Ogun State Police Command.
“No group will be allowed to hold the entire good people of Ogun state in perpetual fear of violence and harm to their persons and properties. Olawale and his group are hereby advised in their own interest to drop their plan to block any highway in the state, thereby causing confusion, disturbances, and public apprehension. ”
The PRO noted that officers will be on standby to arrest any individual or group that tries to put fear in the heart of the residents.
“The law is not on their side on this Officers and men of the command have consequently be put on red alert in view of this unwarranted threat. Members of the public are advised to call the bluff of the group and go about their lawful businesses without fear of harm or molestation by any person, including Olawale and his cohorts.
“Motorists and all road users alike have however been reminded of their rights to freedom of movement and self-defence of their persons and properties against molestation and violence by any persons acting under any guise, including miscreants and hoodlums”.
He further added that the police in conjunction with other security agencies have resolved, and have the capacity, to deal with such elements in the most decisive manner just as he admonished and guardians to call their wards to order.
