How Nigerian Students lost their way by Comrade A.A Jaji
www.mrrights.com.ng
What a creepy alert in those days, these words were not a mere joke; they stand for powerful solidarity that could dismantle the apparatus of oppressors within a minute. www.mrrights.com.ng

Students’ body is a group of students (elected leaders of the students) of an institution or state or country who uphold the responsibilities of protecting the interest of the students they represent.

In world all over, students’ bodies are highly respected, am sure the society is not wrong to have accorded respect to the future of the country and the future of the world. www.mrrights.com.ng

The determination exhibited by the students’ bodies in each country of the world at every political phase is different and depend on the political phase at the time, meanwhile in Nigeria, the roles of students body can be categorized in to pre-independent, military era,and democratic epoch.

Since the focus of this piece rally round the democratic epoch, I will restrict myself within the scope and create necessary connection with other faces of students struggle.

When African countries were under the colonization of the world power, the Britain, France, Italy, Poland, and others, African students who were studying in Britain and France took up the responsibilities of fighting for the black continent, the body that was formed then enjoyed the membership of the great men in Africa such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe etc. www.mrrights.com.ng

From abroad where they studied they triggered the struggle for the liberation of Africa and until the black continent began to get the freedom, they were tireless.

The next episode was triggered by the military intrusion into Nigeria democracy which was strongly opposed by the forces including the students’ movement lead by like of Gbenga Okeowo, Femi Falana, Olusegun Maiyegun and other heroes of students struggle in Nigeria. The military era was the last time we witness true students’ movement in Nigeria, the era of “Ali must go”, the June 12 struggle, the anti Abacha struggle and many ones that were documented in history.

students

Without too much perambulation, I am convinced that as soon as Democracy came, the students’ body missed their way.www.mrrights.com.ng

Perhaps, it could not define its roles and goal in a new and strange season,that was always on streets mounting pressure on the military became one of the tools of the president and governors for mobilization of students. The students’ leaders, struggle no more like the fight has ended, they receive pay from the politicians, like that its lingers till today when these fake students’ leaders: are loyal only to the government and no more to students.

In case we witness again in history the ideal students movement, only in a neutral colour is expected of them and the ROLE OF STUDENTS MOVEMENT IN A DEMOCRACY are as follows: www.mrrights.com.ng

1- Protection of the interest and rights of the students and the standard of education

2- Watch dog to the democratic system

3- Determine the direction of governance in a manner favorable to the rights and interest of the students and promotion of education in the country.

4- Ensure the readiness of the students population to take over and improve on the political system of the country

Nevertheless, instead of the students’ movement to play the golden roles expected of them as itemized above, it has totally derailed.

All hands need to be on deck to re-brand our student movement from the hands of oppressor

Comrade A.A Jaji is the Coordinator of Committee for the defense of human Right (CDHR ilorin unit)
www.mrrights.com.ng

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