Students of Ekiti State
origin in tertiary institutions embarked
on marathon prayers to seek divine
intervention in the five- month old
strike by the members of the
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian
Universities, ASUU.
The students, who were drawn from
the various institutions of higher
learning converged at Lady Jibowu
Hall, Ekiti Government House where
they held the prayer session
The session had in attendance, the
state’s Deputy Governor, Professor
Modupe Adelabu and some clerics.
Adelabu in her remarks cautioned the
students against taking to the streets
and engaging in illegal acts that could
lead to violence and disruption of
peace in the state.
She noted that they did the right thing
by taking their petition to God. She
said it was unfortunate that both
parties to the dispute – ASUU and the
Federal Government – had remained
adamant despite interventions from
well-meaning Nigerians.
The number two citizen of the state
urged the students not to relent in
their regular prayer for divine
intervention, saying that the death of
Prof Festus Iyayi, a frontline ASUU
member in an auto-crash along the
Abuja-Lokoja Road introduced another
twist to the lingering dispute.
Mrs Adelabu, who expressed the hope
that the prayers of the students
would yield the desired result in a
matter of days, counseled the
undergraduates against engaging in
activities that could jeopardize their
future.
Mrs Adelabu regretted that the
situation which keeps them at home in
the past few months was not their
own making and that their teachers
did not deliberately embark on the
strike to put the students’ future at
stake.
According to her, the lecturers were
only pressing for their rights and
other logistics that will improve the
facilities in the nation’s citadel of
leaning and to make them world
standard.
Advising the students to engage
themselves in profitable ventures, she
also urged them not to completely
abandon their studies but constantly
review their lecture notes in
preparation for the re-opening of the
varsities.
Pastor John Aladete in his sermon at
the prayer session urged the students
not to be daunted by their present
predicament as a result of the
protracted ASUU strike.
The cleric charged them to be
hopeful with an assurance that God
will be with them irrespective of the
present development. He said God has
designed their generation to bring the
desired change needed by the
country.
The students were later led into
series of prayer sessions by some
clerics including the Government
House Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Anthony
Famuagun, Pastor Tunde Akinola of
the Redeemed Christian Church of
God (RCCG), the Senior Special
Assistant to the Governor on Youths,
Pastor Mike Awopetu and Special
Assistant to the Governor on Student
Affairs,Mr Adeoye Aribasoye.
Source:www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/ASUU-strike-ekiti-students-seek-divine-intervention/

Your prayers will be heard