A former National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) Presidential Candidate, Comrade Oladoja Olushola, A.K.A Ladoja NANS has called on the students of tertiary institutions in the country to take advantage of the interest of the son of Nigeria President, Mr. Seyi Tinubu in the activities of National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS), saying it will benefit the students more.
He said Nigerian students; in the last eight years have not had many strong allies that could prevail over parties, especially on the government side, to ensure that educational development is prioritized.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State on Thursday, Olushola said despite the fact that he failed to emerge as the NANS President in 2020, he has continued to advocate for and participate in actions that would advance the interests of higher education in Nigeria.
According to him, “it is because of such convictions that I thought it important to weigh in on the conversation around the endorsement of a Senate Presidential aspirant by the son of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Seyi Tinubu. I want to be clear: this piece is not sponsored.
“However, it emerges from a good conscience and the recognition of a possible strategic alliance that NANS could forge with the son of the Number One citizen to advance student issues and promote comprehensive change in the development of higher education in the country”.
Olushola who is also the Chairman, Oyo State Students Leaders Stakeholders Forum said Seyi Tinubu is a young, energetic, and visionary person and therefore, it is within his rights to align with and throw his support behind any young Nigerian who has proven to possess the qualities, dexterity, and track record of influencing positive change within the domains in which they operate.
He said it is noteworthy that the endorsement of a candidate could only come from a place of genuine care for the quality of leadership that NANS produced in the next elections to represent its interests.
“Seyi Tinubu’s endorsement or affiliation with NANS should also be considered a critical avenue to strengthen and extend connections with political and social actors who can increase opportunities for employment for many Nigerian students.
“I agree that many may disagree with this justification, nevertheless, I would like to educate that even within professional circles, the creation and effective use of networks or professional connections are often central to creating opportunities for people.
“Therefore, we cannot overrule the value that the President’s son brings to us as an organization. Besides, the forcing of strategic partnerships between Seyi Tinubu and NANS represents a remarkable step that NANS could leverage to present and enact legislation and policies that would support higher education in Nigeria.
“In the history of Nigeria, not many children of Nigerian Presidents have openly declared support for NANS or identified ways of fostering partnerships with the organization and its leaders to advance the interests of Nigerian students. Many have either prioritized self-interests by enjoying the affluence and goodies that come with being the child of the President or completely stayed aloof from student matters or how to support the improvement of our higher education.
“Let’s be clear that many of them may have had convictions to support or done so behind the scenes; however, it takes a significant amount of courage for the child of a President to openly declare support for Nigerian students or endorse an aspirant for office within NANS.
“My knowledge of Seyi Tinubu is that his accessibility and humility are things that need to be studied. The question is: why shouldn’t NANS align with a person who has repeatedly demonstrated his interest in the organization and seeks to advance some of its interests at the highest levels? Many students, particularly NANS Comrades, must look beyond politics and begin to examine how this fellow could be an important ally for the organization to continue to maintain its legitimacy in advancing students’ needs.
“Consequently, I am aware that Seyi Tinubu has singlehandedly ensured that many young Nigerians, whose ideas can bring tremendous development to the country, accessed the resources they required to concretely actualise their ideas. Hence, he has demonstrated to be an individual who is pursuing and seeking to bring out greatness in his fellow young Nigerians.
“The supposed candidate Seyi Tinubu endorsed is well-known to me. The candidate exhibits the character and demeanour required of a leader. Beyond paying his dues to NANS, he would be a round peg in a round hole if he is elected as Senate President. His intellectual sagacity, ability to drive change, resilience and doggedness, and represent the interest of Nigerian students across any level cannot be second-guessed.
“He is one of the few Comrades whose leadership values resonate with me. Therefore, who would not want to support a good product? I am also aware that some of the candidates who have antagonised the endorsement are expecting financial resources from individuals who are more politically inclined to the benefits that their contributions will bring to their political ambition or legitimacy. Thus, we must be careful when we cast dispersion on others when our houses are not in order either.”
He said Nigeria’s tertiary education has suffered some setbacks in the last few years because of the handling of issues affecting our tertiary institutions across the country.
“These setbacks emerged from the nature of stakeholder interest in educational development in the country, whether they are political, social, or even economic. I mostly came to a logical conclusion that Nigerian students, in the last Eight years, did not have many strong allies that could prevail over parties, especially on the government side, to ensure that educational development is prioritised.
“I am also aware that some of the candidates who have antagonised the endorsement are expecting financial resources from individuals who are more politically inclined to the benefits that their contributions will bring to their political ambition or legitimacy. Thus, we must be careful when we cast dispersion on others when our houses are not in order either.
“It is important that we do not spill bad blood or polarize NANS over the endorsement made by Mr. Seyi Tinubu. Instead, let candidates continue to engage with convincing campaigns to earn them the trust and confidence of Nigerian students.
“I am hopeful that we will look beyond the manipulative agendas that are emerging from some quarters and focus on the quality of aspirants and the kind of issues that they promote in their campaigns. Peace and greatness be unto our great organization, NANS”.
