Angered by the lingering strike action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ambrose Alli University, (AAU) Ekpoma, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen yesterday barricaded the downtown Ring Road, Benin City in protest.
Armed with banners bearing different inscriptions, the protesters who defied the early morning rain sang solidarity songs as they marched down the streets.
The protest led to massive vehicular hold up on the adjourning streets throughout the duration of the protest.
Furious, the Students Union President, UNIBEN, Comrade Foster Amadin lamented that the prolonged strike by the university teachers has made them stayed in their various institutions of learning for more than necessary.
“The truth is, we are not for ASUU. We are not fighting against anybody. All we know and all we want is to go back to classes.
“You know as it stands now, we are academically stagnated. We have been at home for 71 days and nobody is saying anything about it.
“Politicians are going about their electoral processes while members of ASUU are going about their individual businesses, forgetting that we are the young Nigerians bearing the consequences. We are students and we want to graduate.”
Amadin said their parents might not be wealthy enough to have sent them to schools abroad just like children of Senators and House of Representatives members, noting that as peace loving Nigerians all they want is to go back to classes to learn and graduate at the right time.
Speaking in the same vein, the National Vice President, Special Duty of National Association of Nigerians Students (NANS), Comrade Thomas Ikine wailed that it was shameful that students are at home due to ASUU strike while politicians who are to supposed to champion the course of students and ASUU are busy purchasing forms for millions of naira yet they are saying they have no funds to meet ASUU’s demands.
He pointedly blamed the leaders for bastardising the nation’s educational sector which he insisted is faulty.
The activist added that it was cause for concern that Nigerian students are staying idle at home while politicians purchase forms for an amount that even the president cannot even earn throughout his own tenure.
He said: “That is an insult to us. Imagine the Minister of State For Education coming out boldly to purchase a form of hundred million whereas he has been quiet and voiceless ever since ASUU went on strike.
“Now, we are hearing from him and he is lashing out at ASUU whereas all this while we have not heard from him.”
Ikine emphasised that the students will not leave the streets until the government listens to their cry.
“So, as it is, we are calling on Muhammadu Buhari who from all ramifications has failed Nigerians.
“So, we are calling on the federal government to do the needful. We are here, this is called “Unistreet”.
“Few months ago, we admitted new students and today, we are yet to start receiving lectures.
” This is our first day. So, all the courses we are taking here is introductory.
“And as it is, we are here and we are not leaving here. Today is just the beginning.
“More of our colleagues who are not here will be here to join us as from tomorrow. If they want us to leave the street, they know what to do,” he said.
