A coalition of Concerned Northern Youths and Students in 19 Northern states have on Wednesday announced their resolve to withdraw from the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship in the country.
The Coalition’s National Coordinator, Jibril Sani Bello, who kicked against the protest while addressing newsmen in Kano, however, called on students in the country to desist from participating in the protest.
Bello, who doubles as the National Senate President, National Association of Kano State Students, NAKSS, said plans to join the protest have already reached an advanced stage but it resolved to withdraw from the protest because organizers and the aim of the protest were unknown.
He said, that although they understand the economic hardship faced by Nigerians in recent times protests in the past had caused setbacks to their academic pursuit.
According to him, “We understand the economic hardship in Nigeria but as students, your future is paramount. Already, plans to join the protest have reached an advance stage but we resolved to withdraw from the protest due to the fact that organizers and aim of the protest were unknown, especially with the sponsorship for us to fight for our right and so, we are uncertain whether their intentions are peaceful or v+olent
Students of Kano State University of Science and Technology, KUST, Wudil and Uthman Danfodio University in Sokoto state could bear witness that protest has, in most case, it has been a setback to our academic journey. Those in KUST, Wudil, in the 2017/2018 session have to witness an elongation of 4 to 5 months just because of a day protest. Similarly, students of Uthman Danfodio University, in 2012/2013, there was a protest which led 3 to 4 months elongation of the academic journey.
I strongly urge you to refrain from participating in the upcoming nationwide planned protest. The organizers of this protest are unknown, and we are uncertain whether their intentions are peaceful or v+olent. Your safety and well-being are our top priority.
Besides, this administration has shown consideration for students by making educational loans available without interest, ensuring that you can focus on your studies now and secure jobs in the future to repay these loans. Let’s prioritize our education and future success. While we appreciate the efforts of the government, we are also appealing to them to see the possibility of expanding the scholarship exercise like the foreign one to make it mandatory for every student to be a beneficiary of the scholarship and it will make an academic journey hitch free for students” the National Coordinator, Bello however stated.
