₦airaland Forum

The real secret behind the kerfuffle that erupted between SUG President of University of Abuja, Sulaiman Rabiu and the NANS President, Bamidele Danielson Akpan is beyond the rhetoric you've seen on television, newspapers and social media, only a political economist would understand the economy determinism of the crisis and I will like to expose my distinguished readers to some basic realities.

First of all, anyone that says NANS led by Bamidele Danielson is championing this Anti-Xenophobic Struggle because of the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa is either ill-informed about the real gist, or does not understand NANS at all, or intentionally denying the fact because of what he gains from the vicious escapade.

NANS struggle against Xenophobia in South Africa does not start today, between 2016 and 2018, two former NANS Presidents led separate Anti-Xenophobia struggle, but the struggle always ended whenever the South Africa Firms operating in Nigeria settle NANS President monetarily, I wouldn't like to dabble into that.

Just like his predecessors, the current NANS President, Bamidele Danielson wants to get the usual CASH OUT 'money' that gluttonous NANS Leaders make from South Firms operating in Nigeria, using the unfortunate attack that happened to our compatriots in South Africa as the base for advancement of selfish interests, Bamidele issued a threat to South Africa Embassy and the firms operating in Nigeria, in response to this threat, South Africa Embassy invited the Bamidele Danielson for discussion.

Well, I can be quoted anywhere, Mr. Obong King extended the invitation to NANS on behalf of SA Embassy around late July 2019, SA Embassy booked Airpeace Airline for Bamidele Danielson and other 15 members of his Cartel, that means 16 persons made the journey in total from Abuja to Lagos, SA Embassy paid for 16 Rooms for each of the Cartel Members and lodged them at Eko Hotel and Tower in VI, Lagos State. Did Bamidele Danielson tell Nigerian students or general public about this meeting and merriment? The answer is No. How many SUG Presidents were among the 16 attendees? No any SUG President.

Present at the meeting in Eko Hotel and Tower were 16 members of Bamidele's Cartel (No SUG President), the Chairman South Africa Chambers of Commerce, Mr Funsho Philip, Head of South Africa Consulate in Lagos, and Obong King. Representatives of South Africa asked Bamidele what he wanted and he demanded for 100 million Naira as compensation before he would back off from the threat he had issued but the Embassy disagreed, the meeting ended in deadlock but the Embassy still gave each member of the Cartel that followed Bamidele a piece of Brown Envelope that contained #30, 000 each. Did Bamidele Danielson tell Nigerian students about this? No.

After this deadlock, Bamidele Danielson renewed his threat against South Africa firms and Embassy, he issued a statement that gave 7 days Ultimatum to South Africa firms in Nigeria on 7th of August thinking SA Embassy would call him back for renegotiation, but they were not ready to give what he demanded.

No ordinary Nigerian student knows about these heinous cum vicious machinations using their collective patrimony, Bamidele thinks he was wiser than all and he could use the head of about 40 million Nigerian students to advance his personal cum selfish agenda, our heads would always stand on his way, people that used it in the past are nobody today.

With the ultimatum, Bamidele Danielson ordered NANS and Students to start picketing South African Firms across Nigeria, some persons did the picketing with sincerity while some other persons did it to get a share, paradventure Bamidele gets paid.

The University of Abuja SUG President, Sulaiman Rabiu released a Press Statement that his students were not available for the Protest for three major reasons that I know, one, Bamidele Danielson as NANS President didn't consult the Senators across Nigeria, two, the wind of information blew to him that the struggle was for personal gains, three, Shiite protest that had become bloody was ongoing in Abuja then and he couldn't risk life of any of his students. Bamidele Danielson considered him as enemy because he refused to mobilize University of Abuja for protest with him at a time Shiite - Security confrontation was at it peak, then, they were thinking of dealing with him whenever they had the opportunity.

Also, another vital point that needs to be noted is that, South Africa High Commissioner was in University of Abuja about two months ago for a program, before Bamidele even started his threat, he met with the SUG President and he promised to partner with the University in area of Development. That shows communication between Uniabuja and SA Embassy preceded Bamidele's activities.

The young man, SUG President of University of Abuja was invited with the Leaders of other youth based organizations via mail and he honored the invitation, NANS was also invited to be part of discussion but refused to attend because NANS wouldn't be able to do the type of negotiation (scope) they did in Eko Hotel Lagos in a place where there is Media, SUG President (that doesn't understand NANS scope) and other youths organizations.

During the discussion, a Journalist asked the SUG President who he was representing, he said it succinctly and publicly that he was representing University of Abuja not NANS. The same journalist called Bamidele Danielson to inform him that the SUG President of University of Abuja was at the venue, Bamidele felt the SUG President would jeopardize his chance of getting the Money he was expecting from South Africa Embassy, he therefore mobilized his people to the venue.

Getting to the venue, the SUG President of University of Abuja was coming out, Bamidele and his crew didn't ask him any question, rather, they started bombarding him and four other students that followed him with slaps and punches, the students were confused and started pleading for a crime they never committed.

Bamidele rushed to the Social Media to accuse the Union President of different unfounded offences, he sponsored media trying to prove a point that never existed, an attack on one SUG President is an attack on all the SUG Presidents, it is University of Abuja that was attacked by Bamidele Danielson today, it may be your institution that would be attacked tomorrow, in order to avert continuation of such vicious attack, University of Abuja students have declared Bamidele Danielson as perona nongrata in their University while Bamidele directed the Senate President to proclaim an unconstitutional suspension. Until we establish the fact that a NANS President is not a God but a supposed mere representative of Students, we shall never relent.

We are rightly informed that the NANS stakeholders that have turned NANS to business over years are regrouping and planning because they considered their pot of soup threatened, but we are not afraid because we are for the genuine emancipation of Nigerian students.

I know they are targeting me for my stance on this issue, but if I'm on the path of truth and justice, the Lord of Aluta would never divorce me, but if I'm not, may the lord of Aluta judge me accordingly.

Ogunwoye Samson Gbemiga (Ogunsamson)
MSc Student, University of Abuja.

Shey na dis same crop of activist go become political leaders in d soon to come future, Then Naija no fit change!

iyatrustee:
Shey na dis same crop of activist go become political leaders in d soon to come future, Then Naija no fit change!

Well said. I don't see this country get better