Nigeria’s apex students body, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has suspended its planned June 12 nationwide protest.
NANS president, Sunday Asefon, disclosed this in a statement released Friday morning, against the association’s earlier declaration of June 12, 2021 as a day of protest.
The NANS president also said the students’ body was not associated with the secessionist campaign termed the ‘Buhari-must-go’ campaign slated to hold on Saturday by some politicians and activists.
In the statement entitled, “NANS Suspends June 12 Protest Over Concerns About Safety Of Protesters And Fear Of Possible Hijack By Politicians – Comrade Sunday Asefon,” NANS president feared that politicians may hijack the protest, which he said may endanger the lives of protesters.
ALSO READ: FG declares Monday, June 14, public holiday for Democracy Day
While he said the planned protest was aimed at decrying the insecurity in the country, especially the serial abductions of students, Asefon noted that, some politicians with “different agenda” have perfected plans to hijack the protest to “ventilate their political opinions and sentiments.”
Hence, he said in 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.”
NANS said the suspension of the protest was necessary to avoid a clash of interest, especially with security agencies as a result of many other protests slated for the date.
“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,” the statement read.
Asefon further said in the statement that the protest was suspended for the welfare of students, as NANS won’t want to put the life of any of the students at risk, as a result, the association won’t join the protest.
He, however, informed that the protest was not cancelled but postponed, saying, a new date would be announced for the rally.
