Revelation has emerged that the largess given to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) by the government is the root of the crisis that led to the emergence of two presidents of the association.
InsightMedia has reported that the two factions, one led by the government-preferred candidate, Usman Umar Barambu of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, and the other led by Umar Farouk Lawal of Bayero University Kano, who is the preferred candidate of the students, have declared themselves presidents.
A senior member of the association who attended the national convention held in Abuja revealed that a government largesse running into millions of naira was allegedly used by government officials to “buy off” three out of five candidates and asked them to step down for their preferred candidate, and most of them complied except the students’ preferred candidate, Umar Farouk Lawal of Bayero University.
The senior NANS member said the election process was bastardized to the point that the alleged ineligible candidates who were disqualified got waivers to contest as money exchanged hands.
READ ALSO: Confusion as two presidents emerge from NANS
He said: “While the government-preferred candidate, Usman Umar Barambu was declared winner and returned as NANS President at the convention, Umar Farouk Lawal, who refused to collect money to step down was also declared winner and returned as NANS President by delegates, and Nigerian students by extension.”
The National Convention of NANS was supposed to herald the end of the tenure of the outgoing President, Sunday Asefon, and usher in the new executive of NANS. (Sunday Sun)
