Akwarandu Izuchukwu Chinenyeze Akwarandu, a final year student in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Imo state University, Owerri writes an open letter to the president in respect of the on-going ASUU strike


Mr. President,
I write this letter with tears and in consideration of the fact that you are a listening president. I will not fail to commend you on your transformation agenda and just like you will always say, “we may not be where we are going now, but we will surely get there”.
You have given Nigeria a breath of fresh air, just like you promised during your campaign. Yes! the demands are high, but it will be an ungrateful act if I fail to acknowledge your successes especially in sustaining our growing democracy even when the pressure is obviously stacked too high on you. I also wish to give you credit for the transformation going on in our railway, power, health, Finance,Oil and Agricultural sectors.
Most of these are aimed at creating employment for the youth and I applaud you on behalf of Imo state University Students and Nigerian Students at large.
On a special note, you may wonder why I did not mention the Education sector while commending your tremendous achievements. This is because the Education sector which is meant and supposed to receive a top priority attention is now handled in a third class manner. Mr. President, this is without doubt not good for the future of this great nation.
Like Achebe said, “every generation must have something different to offer”. Bear it in mind Mr. President that It will always be on record that it was during your tenure as a President that Nigerian Students studying in their homeland universities spent so many months at home because their government failed to revitalise their “past” and give “hope” to their “hopeless” future.
Mr. President, I wish to let you know that Nigerian students can storm Abuja and make the whole FCT riotous and ungovernable for weeks. But these are measures we do not want to adopt because we still have hope and trust in your government. Some of us are dying due to one problem or the other which could have been averted if students were in school.
Mr. President, as a leader who derived from the academia, you are undoubtedly conversant with the saying that “an idle mind is a devils workshop”. It would seem this, unfortunately, is what applies to Nigerian students now. This is because, the devil has not only opened a workshop in them, but also a shopping center and a very big construction company where if something is not done to save, the nation may be put in a state of dilemma very soon.
The Academic staff union of universities have tried and they are not making any new demand. It is important to note that you inherited this agreement, but I also know that you were not far from the federal executive council when it was reached. I plead with you as a true Nigerian citizen to see to ASUU’s demand and allow us go back to school.
Others have given you ultimatum, but I don’t want to. This is because I know that in less than “two weeks” you will act on this issue and we will rejoice. Whereby you fail to do so Mr. President, I will have no option than to take the above mentioned “two weeks” as my dear ultimatum.
I also know that this letter will not get to you if Abati or Okupe sees it before you, but I pray they don’t see it before you because is very important to me. Although those people are your aides, I advise you to be very careful and remember that everybody in Nigeria can not be your enemy because of “OkuBati” syndrome.
I will not forget to appreciate you for sacking the minister of youth because it was only through his sack that I noticed he existed. There are still others that deserve to be fired but I am not writing to tell you about them. If that is why wrote, I would have asked you to sack the Education minister, I would have also asked you to sack minister for state for Education and some other ones whom you know better than I do. But that is not why am writing.
Am writing to plead with you to end this strike as it does no student any good.
I pray that the good Lord guide and guard you and also give you the strength to lead this nation and meet up to ASUU’s demand.
Long Live Nigerian Students
Long Live Mr. President
Long Live Fed. Republic of Nigeria
Aluta Continua…
Akwarandu Izuchukwu Chinenyeze Akwarandu is a final year student in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Imo state University, Owerri

....would comment when it makes the front page...

Well said my dear Akwarandu but, i will advise u to pick up ur hoe and cutlass and make a living from it since its still raining.
U ar in final year and want to graduate ASAP so u can start making money or secure a government job abi? If only u know what those that graduated are facing.. There is a saying that says "if life gives u a lemon make a lemonade from it". Am not supporting the Government cos i dont earn my pay 4rm them but ur theat to make d country ungovernable is not d first & can never be the last. Hope u can also draft a copy of this letter to our lecturers cos they are also to be blamed.