The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the arrest of its officials in Imo at the instance of the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr Benson Abazu.
The association expressed this in a statement signed by Akinteye Babatunde Afeez (BABTEE) President of the Senate, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Headquarters and made available to newsmen.
The statement reads: “With profound indignation and disappointment, we express our total resentment towards the brazen act of injustice perpetrated against our association.
“ It has come to our attention, with indisputable clarity, that the Imo State Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Chika Benson Abazu, has crossed a line that disrespect the association. Reports have it that, Mr. Chika Benson Abazu, in an unlawful and unconscionable abuse of power, orchestrated the arrest of NANS executives (both National and Zonal) from Imo State.
“ Let it be noted that, these executives were in attendance at a routine meeting when Mr. Abazu employed his personal security force to disrupt this assembly, claiming, without basis, that these individuals were to be taken to the Government House.
“ This act is an egregious abuse of power, an aberration of his office, and an assault on
the foundational liberties we hold dear. We find this behavior unbefitting of an official entrusted with public service and deem it entirely uncalled for. By targeting our national and zonal executives, individuals who carry the mandate of Nigerian students, Mr. Abazu has shown a shocking lack of respect for the rule of law, for accountability, and for the tenets of democratic governance.
“ This is not an isolated incident. It has become painfully clear that Mr. Abazu’s acts in office have been plagued with recurrent accusations of high-handedness and intimidation, as well as reports of multiple abuses of power. These acts, which have now culminated in the unlawful detention of our Comrades paint a troubling portrait of a public official who has strayed far from his responsibilities. The leadership of NANS cannot, and will not stand silent in the face of this tyranny.
“ In light of this and the record of misconduct and abuse of power associated with Mr. Abazu’s office, we are left with no choice but to demand his immediate dismissal from the position of Commissioner for Transport in Imo State.
“ We call on the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma to act decisively by ensuring that Mr. Abazu is relieved of his duties within the next 48 hours. His dismissal will serve as a deterrent to all public officers that power is a privilege granted to serve, not to oppress. Should this demand go unmet, the national leadership of NANS will be left with no choice but to resort to relocating our headquarters to Imo State.
“ Let it be known that this ugly situation is not merely about those arrested. This act of repression is an attack on the entire Nigerian student body. It is an attempt to silence the collective voice of young Nigerians to undermine our rights, and to stifle our aspirations for a just and democratic society. We reaffirm today that any injury to one of us is an injury to all.
“ NANS is a unified body, and we stand resolute against any force that seeks to divide or diminish us. To this end, we call on the Zonal leadership of NANS, JCC structure and all Nigerian students to mobilize across all campuses and shutdown the state until justice is served and Mr. Chika Benson is dismissed.
“ Conclusively, we state unequivocally that we will not allow this abuse to slide. The actions of Mr. Chika Benson Abazu are a blight on the office he holds and a dishonor to the people he should serve. We demand justice, accountability, and respect “.
