…accuses politicians of planning to hijack protest
National Association of Nigerian Students, on Friday, cancelled its planned June 12 nationwide protest.
NANS President, Sunday Asefon, announced this in a statement titled, ‘NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians – Comrade Sunday Asefon’.
The NANS president said the planned protest was to decry the worsening insecurity in the country, especially the serial abduction of students.
But Asefon alleged that some politicians with “different agenda” have perfected plans to hijack the protest to “ventilate their political opinions and sentiments.”
The NANS President also said the students’ body was not associated with the secessionist campaign or the ‘Buhari-must-go’ campaign slated to hold on Saturday by some politicians and activists.
According to the statement, “Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12.
“The suspension of the protest is necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies that are on red alert to protect the nation’s infrastructure from security breaches on the proposed date as a result of many other protests slated for the date.
“We intend to protest for better security and improved welfare for our students, we must therefore not put the life of any of our students at risk to ventilate our grievances.”
But Asefon further noted that the protest was not cancelled as it was only postponed.
He added that a new date would be announced for the NANS protest against insecurity.