It could be recalled that just two days ago, the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) made a press statement condemning the killing of Mr. Ejike Okeke a student of IMT by a stray bullet from a careless security agent.
In that statement, we had called on the state governor and the father of Enugu state students to help secure justice for the dead student and compensate the bereaved family accordingly. Is it not then worth commendation that the governor Ugwuanyi led administration has immediately swung into action, dispatching government delegation to pay condolences to all bereaved families of the #EndSARS protest and initiating investigations geared towards identifying perpetrators of these crimes?
The state government has also gone further to demonstrate proactiveness by setting up a panel on victims of #EndSARS protest, to investigate and ascertain peculiar cases surrounding every victim of the protest and report for urgent government action.
Our faith and trust in the current administration is again reaffirmed by these urgent actions that clearly demonstrate responsiveness and forthrightness of government. . As the highest students leadership body, we are also elated that the government of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has ushered Enugu state students into a new phase of inclusion where classroom students will be involved and carried along in every committee, panels, boards and delegation. From where we stand, it demonstrates the administration's believe in the latent potentials of a student.
Instructively, while there is the long argument about palliatives, the leadership of Enugu state students vehemently refuse to thread the ignorant path remembering that governor Ugwuanyi remains the only governor in Nigeria that gave students palliative during the covid 19 lockdown, a gesture that Enugu state students will not forget in a hurry.
We clearly understand that this is a trying time for our dear state and our nation but we trust on the strength of the governor's compassionate character to manage all emotions and sentiments that have been stirred up by the events of the past few days.
Finally, we urge the members of the constituted panel to strive to live up to the demands of their mandate while we continue to maintain relations with the state government to ensure that investigations are fruitful.
Aluta continua, Victoria Ascerta
Comr. Darlington Ugwuegbe
Deputy Coordinator NANS Zone B
(South-south, Southeast)
Comr. Romanus Ogene
NANS Chairman Enugu State.
