- Safiu Kehinde
Osun state students have accused the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Students Affairs, Bashiru Aderoju of polarising their union.
The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Council, Osun axis, accused Aderoju of interfering in the association’s upcoming convention for his personal gain.
The NANS JCC, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Adedamola Ogungbe, General Secretary ,Faruq Afolabi, and spokesperson, Emmanuel Adedapo claimed the governor’s aide had sponsored some individuals to establish the Convention’s Planning Committee as against the one established by the association’s chairman.
They claimed that SSA’s move would undermine Adeleke administration as the alternate CPC has caused divide within the students’ body.
The statement partly read; “It has become common knowledge that subsequent to the Chairman’s constitutional appointment of the CPC, as stipulated by our Association’s sacrosanct constitution, the SSA of Students’ Affairs, harboring ulterior motives, sought to exploit the Association for his nefarious agenda.
“He clandestinely sponsored individuals to proclaim an alternate CPC, thereby factionalizing the association. This machination aims to provide a tool for him and his former affiliates to destabilize Osun State and undermine Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration.
“Anticipating Mr Oladejo Basiru Aderoju’s provocative actions, we, as advocates of peace and lawfulness, engaged key stakeholders within the government and students’ communities.
“These stakeholders uniformly emphasized the importance of peaceful resolution, proposing that both the legitimate CPC and the rebel faction cease operations until harmony is restored within the association. A meeting was scheduled to address pressing concerns and establish order.
“Regrettably, SSA Basiru Aderoju instructed the factional CPC to proceed with electoral processes, surreptitiously scheduling elections for Wednesday, 30th October.
“Moreover, he has reprehensibly reported students to the DSS for arrest, solely to advance his malevolent agenda. We condemn this affront to Nigerian students and the association’s integrity.
“Notably, this SSA previously submitted a request to the government for election funds prior to the 8th month of our administration and before CPC’s formation.
“His actions betray a self-serving motivation, driven by financial gain and a desire to disrupt Osun State’s peaceful atmosphere.
“In light of these developments, we invite Nigerian students to an emergency Congress, as empowered by our constitution. Sub Section 3 states the Congress as the Association’s supreme authority and the Chairman has the power to summon emergency Congress if there is emergency or anything that can destabilize the association.
“We extend this invitation to all Nigerian students to convene and address the prevailing issues, charting a forward course.”