NANS 5: Tribute To The Heroes We Lost [Written by Ayobami Ladipo]

The 13th day of June 2013 will remain evergreen in the hearts, minds and records of every member of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. It was the 13th day in the 13th year of a millennium, a black Thursday. A day that ended the life journey of the 5 NANS executive en route University of Uyo for a peaceful resolution.

The Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Donald Onukaogu and four other students who were also executive members of the association were on their way to the University of Uyo to intervene in an on-going crisis in the school which had while it lasted, claimed the live of at least one student.
The protest was predicated on students’ disapproval of poor policies by the university administration which led to a shutdown of the institution. The officials in a bid to carry out their sworn duties, journeyed to proffer lasting solution to the crisis but sadly met their untimely death.

Reports read that their bus collided with a lorry. While four gave up the ghost almost immediately, seven others who are critically injured are receiving treatment at the hospital.

The incident has thrown the whole educational sector into what would be best described as a pitch blackout. As pictures of their lifeless bodies hit social media, one cannot but wonder how a journey for peace resulted into a journey of permanent peace.

A great loss to the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, to the student union and to their families…But will the Government even recognize their demise?

While we mourn and sing dirges for yet another set of young lives wasted; while condoling with their families and friends and praying for quick recovery for those still in the hospital, a lingering question on our minds is: Could this seemingly inevitable incident have been avoided?

Perhaps-
*If the VC had not mandated the students to pay extra fees…
*If the University Security had not called in the police during the PEACEFUL PROTEST by the Students…

*If the economic situation in the country was better, parents would have enough to pay for whatever extra fees necessitated the protest in the first or maybe;
*If the protesting students hadn’t been killed…

Perhaps NANS Senate President Donald Onukaogu Sunday and the four others would not have embarked on that ill-fated journey. Perhaps…

Donald as the NANS Senate President had displayed what a worthy leader would do in terms of crisis, he chose to intervene peacefully within 24hrs than to keep mute and watch from a distance like many of our National Leaders would do.

What a Pain!…..What a Shame!….What a Loss…..This I call a National Tragedy but yet again, would the government recognize them or even address the issues for which they died? The exploitation of students is a canker-worm eating through the fabrics of our already seemingly dead educational system, yet those who ought to speak out keep sealed lips.

To the Leadership of NANS, I am of the view that there will be no better way to honor the departed than for their death to trigger the launch of a National campaign against the killing of students, bad roads, poor educational policies and infrastructure (that keeps denying youths a promising future), police brutality on students, extra judicial killings among other vices.

With a heavy heart, we all bid them GOODNIGHT……This is a special tribute to the NANS Senate President and four executives, who lost their lives for a good cause… I call them the “NANS 5″.

Article by Ayobami Ladipo(@ayobamiladipo on twitter.)

*Ayobami Ladipo CEO of PorscheClassy Media is a blogger, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, publicist, among other things.