TheCable

The National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has given Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, 24 hours to slash the schools fee of four state higher institutions to the initial fees.

Danielson Bamidele, president of NANS, gave the ultimatum while speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The four higher institutions are Adekunle Ajasi University, Akungba (AAUA), Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OSUSTECH); Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo and Ondo State School of Nursing, Akure.

Bamidele, who said NANS had come to take its responsibilities and future in its hands, said some governors had introduced new policies to enhance education in their states but Akeredolu was not doing same.

“We have come to a point where, we will not allow any government to run the affairs of any state especially the part of it that affects us directly in the manner that pleases them,” he said.

“Since the return of democracy in 1999, Ondo State Government made free education available for all from primary to secondary level.

“Adefarati came and initiated that policy, Agagu came to sustain it, Mimiko spent two terms he consolidated it, so Akeredolu should not only sustain it but improve on it.

“AAUA school fees was N63,000 initially but the state government increased it to N200,000 before it was later reduced to N180,000 with a promise to revise it to normal in the next session.

“Also OSUSTECH was N70,000 and increased to N200,000, School of Nursing, Akure and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic fees were increased too.

“WAEC, which used to be paid for by the state government, has been stopped without apology to anyone.

“Gov. Akeredolu should please help our students, who do not have hope to be educated as a matter of urgency, he should revise all the school fees of the state’s higher institutions to the initial fees.

“We are giving him 24 hours ultimatum to do that because we are not ready to fight him but to yield to the yearnings of the students and their parents.”

Bamidele said Akeredolu walked student leaders out of the government house during a meeting on how to resolve the issue.

He asked the governor to comply with their demand by slashing fees in all tertiary institutions in the state or face the wrath of students across the country.

“We have used all channels to address this matter but it has proven abortive. The governor has been showing carelessness and insensitivity,” he said.

“After meeting with the governor on the need to address the issue, he displayed the highest level of arrogance by telling us to go to hell, that his decision is final and that he is not going to reduce the school fees. He who ever cannot pay should go to hell that schooling is not by force. And this is somebody who benefitted from free education.

“The governor threatened us that he is ready to order the security men to flush us out if we dare protest. Whereas peaceful protest is our right. It is the last resort in negotiations.

“I saw arrogance at its peak in Gov. Akeredolu when we met we him. It looks as if I was sitting with Adolf Hitler. It seems as if I was sitting in the presence of Pharaoh. Even when we met with President Buhari, he did not address us in such manner. But it is surprising that a governor whose power is limited within a state could put up that show of arrogance.

“Two years is too long to chase him, it is now upon us, parents, students, artisans and entire people of Ondo State to stop this.”

Responding, Olarewaju Akeredolu, national president of National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), said it was the NANS president who exhibited ignorance.

Akeredolu accused Bamidele of coming to the state for personal glorification and not in the interest of the students.

“When he got to the meeting, he accused the governor of not supporting his ambition as NANS president, that governor Akeredolu should donate bus to him,” he said.

Akeredolu said NAOSS would not allow someone to destroy the peace being enjoyed in the state.