Aftermath of the fuel subsidy protests that paralysed all sectors of the county’s economy for a  week, criticisms have continued to pour on the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students [NANS], over what majority of the students called “betrayal of the trust reposed In them. ”

Nigerian students, all over the state, as most of them are at home, had started demonstrations on the third day of the year until NANS leadership led by UNIJOS Oauda Mohammed; which had earlier described the president’s decision as unpopular, called for the students’ cooperation, saying  the subsidy removal was a “bold step in fighting corruption,” promising that the Federal Government  would provide buses for all tertiary institution to ensure effective transportation services.

Many are of the view that it is so unfortunate that NANS has not come out to commiserate with the families of those students who were victims of the protests.

The protests In the South-western part of the country were led by the Students Union President of the  University of Ibadan, Tokunbo Salako, NANS director of Transport, Travel and Exchange, Comrade Mojeed Bello of the Ekiti State University, Oyo branch and the President of the National Association of Oyo Students [NAOS], Tajudeen Samsudeen.

The students of the ObafemiAwolowo University, lIe-lfe were not left out as they participated In their various states.

NANS, during OAU’s Tunde Okeowo’ era, was the rallying point for the oppressed. The Student’s were said to have mounted pressure on the Federal Military Government [FMG] to be included in the constituent Assembly and their demand was granted by the FMG. Even, Dino Melaye was part of the historic NANS during his undergraduate days at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

They paid solidarity to each other when it was needed. There was a time, In 1999 when NANS operation was temporarily moved to lIe-lfe when cultists invaded the sacred OAU campus in an attack that claimed the lives of the 21 years old, former Secretary General of the Students Union, George Akinyemi Iwilade,    (Afrika)and 5 others.

During the radical days of NANS, the movement was not only known for fighting for its members but also that of the workers and other oppressed people. One could easily recall the anti -SAP and the anti-military struggles. Then, you had no business in being student activists without having a leftist leaning.