By Abdulrasheed Olokoto 

The recent past weeks bore witness to an incident in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Nigeria. During a homecoming concert held at the tertiary institution, a Nigerian Afrobeat star publicly disassociated himself from supporting any political movement aimed at working towards the return of the current presidential incumbency in Nigeria. Ironically, the Students’ Union President of the Polytechnic, shortly after the Afrobeat musician revealed his stance, introduced a member of the City Boy Movement on stage and presented him with an award.

The unpopular gesture, which was believed to contradict the core values of the student association, sparked a public fury among the critical mass of the Nigerian students who hold the conviction that Tinubu-led administration does not deserve second time, given its poor performance in office so far..

Before now, NANS and student union leadership across tertiary institutions used to exemplify a resistance against anti-student policies and bad governance. Known for its antecedent in championing student rights, the association then neither compromised nor traded the essence for which it was founded for any political patronage and favouratism. Led by fearless, undeterred student activists, those students, without entertaining any iota of cowardice, challenged the unfavorable policies and unsolicited attacks orchestrated on the Nigerian students.

In recent years, Nigerian student leaders, being the representatives of the students, have moved completely away from their core mandate, betraying student trust, failing arrogantly to address student concerns and aligning with mainstream political class.

True leaders are easily identified through the idea they project and the collective actions they take in interest of the represented. The Nigerian student leaders, but past and present, have become a weapon fashioned against Nigerian students.

In the face of issues affecting students, which include the persistent victimization, low standard of public education and inexplicable fee hikes which have rendered education inaccessible to the common man, they do not deem it fit to challenge the issues.

Of what use is the essence of student leadership that shirks from its responsibility to stand with students in hard times like this?

Even at the University of Ibadan, an institution that prides itself as the first and best, the Union leaders have turned to be pawns for the management, neglecting their responsibility to shield students from the unpopular policies that pose threat to their academic endeavor.

In instances where they were expected to take courageous actions by challenging management’s intolerance of student dissent and introduction of neo-liberal policies, they entertained cowardice, leaving the students to their devices. For example, the Deboye Temidayo-led Students’ Union failed to attend the ruling that saw to the ordered reinstatement of UI3 (Aduwo Ayodele, Mide Gbadeegsin, and Nice Linus). Worst still, the Union failed to provide an official clarification on its absence from such an important ruling and even express remorse.

Even his immediate predecessor, Covenant Odedele, remained mute in the unjust suspension of the duo of Aduwo Ayodele and Mide Gbadeegsin, with his administration being castigated by the student community.

The reason for these continued anomalies is not far-fetched. It is obviously because the Union leaders in recent times have been arrogant in their failure to serve as defenders of student rights while working in complicity with the authorities. It is also because the student community has not yet cultivated the habit of demanding accountability from their leaders.

Even worse, as the 2027 election is approaching, some of these leaders have identified themselves with the incumbent Nigerian presidency by joining the City Boy Movement, declaring their support for its re-election.

Bringing it to the center, A lot has been said and written about the Achilles’ hills of NANS leadership and the need for it to turn a new leaf by stopping being a political tool to the ruling class and addressing the unfavorable reality facing Nigerian students. Yet the leadership remains resolute in its perpetual misrepresentation of student interests.

Recently, the current NANS leadership led by Comrade Akinteye Babatunde has become the talk of the town because of his recent approach to handling issues related to student interests. For example, the NANS President, to his credit, had called ICPC to carry out an investigation into how the University was managed under Professor Adebowale Kayode-led administration who he described as an oppressor. He was also recently active in attending to student issues related to NELFUND.

Yet, the aforementioned gesture, despite being lauded by some students, is just tokenism. It is the least the President and the entire NANS leadership can do for the Nigerian students.

Therefore, Akinteye Babatunde must come to the light that the Nigerian students deserve more than tokenism.

He must re-channel the energy of the association to fighting against the neo-liberal policies with which the government has crippled the educational sector.

Beyond issuing the traditional official statements, It is very imperative that in projecting student interests, NANS must employ more efficient strategy.

Moreso, as the conscience of the Nigerian student community, NANS should conscientise them and encourage them to demand accountability and public transparency from their leaders both at tertiary institutions and the mainstream levels.

If the then NANS could actively participate in the ushering of democracy we practise today, even as it is ideal, the current leadership has no excuse for being a toothless bull dog and a pawn in the hands of the political rascals who have messed up the country.