By Fikayo Olowolagba The declaration of intention to run for presidency in 2023 has taken its toll on Nigerians, especially students...
By Fikayo Olowolagba
The declaration of intention to run for presidency in 2023
has taken its toll on Nigerians, especially students who have stayed home for
three months due to the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,
strike.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, NASU, and the
National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, embarked on strike in
February over the failure of the Federal Government to address their concerns.
Despite lingering strike action, ministers under this
administration have declared intentions to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari
without proffering any solution to the lingering strike action.
The numbers of presidential aspirants have continued to
increase daily while ASUU and the government fail to reach truce.
Under the APC alone, presidential aspirants include:
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; Tinubu; Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of
Transportation; Dave Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor; Rochas Okorocha, Imo West
Senator; Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State; Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of
State for Education.
Others are Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of Edo State;
Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor; Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta,
and Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment.
This, however, did not go down well with Nigerians who took
to their social media pages describing the presidential aspirants as selfish,
with all focus on election and having no regard for education in the country.
Here are some reactions gathered by DAILY POST from Twitter;
@Arekunmi “ None of these aspirants has even used “ending
the ASUU strike card” in their declaration campaigns. That’s how low the regard
for education is for these guys.We are not even asking you to end the
strike..at least have some decency by using it to campaign.Like, at least lie.”
@AdaramolaRichard “To be frank, it is selfishness and even
stupidity, running for presidency while students are on strike. Message to all
presidential candidates.”
@Trinityboii “Students still dey house and strike not called
off and all these men in power are all going for presidency. What is your plan,
misplaced priority. Is it that these men in power are cursed.God help us oh.”
@NwanneObi “It is obvious that this government does not care
about our students as already demonstrated. From Labor to Education all
interested in presidency despite the many months of strike. Mobilize your
members and students to chase them away.”
@NwanjiInnocent “It’s sad at this point that the Ministers
for Education and Labour have left ASUU and Nigerian students to jostle for the
2023 presidency. When this is all over, they will find a way to defend this
mediocrity.”
@Aniefiokdebest “The multiple declaration for the 2023
presidency by politicians has turned the exercise to a child play. For goodness
sake, how can individuals who cannot solve common ASUU strike, pay workers
salary, implement the N30,00 minimum wage be declaring for president? Jokers.”
@Teju “It’s so unfortunate that we have an irresponsible
government in this country. A government that’s more focused on 2023 election
than the education and success of its students. A government that is willing to
kill the education sector, and trying to make us illiterate.”
@99_AMC “No money to pay ASUU but there’s 100m for the
presidential form. Has any of them even addressed this strike while doing their
declaration of interest in the presidency thingy?
@IamDouggy “As a student, I endured strikes twice before I
graduated. Education in Nigeria is just like electricity, if not worse, it’s
never stable. It pains me that the people are the ones suffering yet they can’t
do anything about it. The 2023 election is now the government’s focus, even the
Minister of Education.”
@Adibenco4 “ASUU has been on strike for months, yet all the
government cares for is the 2023 election. We are not fools.”
No comments