Students of Abia State origin under the aegis of National Association of Abia State Students (NAASS) have vowed that none of them would be used to disrupt the peace of the state or for the shedding of blood.

NAASS has, therefore, advised all its members to shun all social vices and avoid being used by politicians who may want to resort to violence to achieve their selfish ends. It advised the students to concentrate on their studies which constitute the bedrock for building and developing Nigeria.

At a press conference today in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, NAASS maintained that the administration of Governor Theodore Orji has done well. It, however, urged the governor to tie up all loose ends and boost students’ welfare which opponents may capitalise on to lure students to do their bidding.

Specifically, the students demanded from the state government, 26 per cent budgetary allocation for the education sector and recruitment of qualified professionals to man the sector. They also urged the governor to look into the bursary and scholarship schemes of the state, among other incentives meant for Abia students.

President of NAASS, Comrade Ezeibe Jude, who spoke for the group at the NUJ Press Centre, insisted that boosting students’ welfare would help block avenues detractors may find handy to draw students away from the good policies of government and use them to cause violence.

Speaking against the backdrop of speculations that some highly placed politicians have allegedly been making plans to use students to cause mayhem in the state, Ezeibe said that Abia students would not yield themselves to be used to turn their state to a war zone.

“We advise all our students to be law-abiding and to exonerate themselves from the politically-motivated mischief aimed at tarnishing the good image of the state government,” the NAASS leader said, adding, “We are ever ready to stand against anybody or groups that would want to mobilise and use our students, both within and outside, as a tool to distract the government from its civic duties.”

The association commended Abia State Commissioner for Youth, Barrister Akujuobi Nkoro, for his efforts in directing the students to the path of moral rectitude and for taking steps that have proved that Governor Orji meant well for them.

Similarly, the Students Union Government (SUG) of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) also today paid a solidarity visit to Governor Orji at Government House, Umuahia, to categorically deny that the students ever staged any protest against the withdrawal of the degree certificate issued former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu by the Senate of the school, let alone being brutalised by security agents.

President of ABSU SUG, Eke Obinna Nathclonton, in an address he presented to the governor said: “It is not obviously in our character to pry into the affairs of the university Senate, especially their decisions. This is given that we trust their sense of judgement and as students, we can only work with them to sustain the excellent peaceful environment under which we have excelled.”

Receiving the students on behalf of the governor, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, commended them for their maturity and enjoined them to ensure peace on campus always to enable them to realise their objectives of burning their midnight candles.

•Photo: NAASS President, Comrade Ezeibe, addressing the press today in Umuahia.

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