Students under the aegis of NANS South-South Action Committee have berated the Vice President Special Duties of NANS, Comrade Ubon Marcus for what they described as his lackadaisical approach towards unionism especially the current ASUU strike.
According to the students’ body, Comrade Marcus since his emergence as NANS VP has not visited any higher institution to interact with students so as to know their challenges and use his esteemed office to attract attention to such issues from relevant authorities. They further stated that as the present highest students’ leader from the South-South, students from the region look up to him but it’s rather a pity that the NANS VP has let them down.
This was contained in a statement issued recently in Bayelsa and signed by the Chairman, NANS South-South Action Committee, Comrade Osaki Tamuno and endorsed by NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairmen of the South-South states. The statement in part states that “The emergence of Ubon Marcus as NANS VP at the December convention in Uyo raised the hopes of Nigerian Students that once again the ideals of our struggle will be upheld and our collective interests as students fought for.
As a young man who exhibited true comradeship in previous positions he held especially as Worldwide President of Etinan Local Government Students in Akwa Ibom, we had no doubts in his capacity to move the Aluta ship forward especially for us from this region that are usually marginalised. It is therefore most unfortunate that the young man has turned to a sleeping Comrade choosing to enjoy the enormous benefits of his office ignoring the plight of students who put him there.”
They called on the NANS Vice President to sit-up or incur their wrath wondering why he would choose to be a failure when two very distinguished senior comrades: a former NANS President and a former Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament are solidly behind him.
When contacted, the NANS Vice President Special Duties Comrade Ubon Marcus who cast doubts on the legitimacy of the NANS South-South Action Committee said he is not a failure, stating that he has done the best within his ability for students so far.
According to Marcus, “You cannot evaluate a man’s performance without taking his challenges into consideration. NANS has no statutory allocation from anywhere. As NANS VP I don’t receive salary, stipend or allowance. Do you know how I even manage to get transport to follow up the struggle or to help students in need? I don’t even have a car or any means of mobility of my own. Things are rough but I am not complaining. I have tried my best. What should I have done that I have not done? I’ve reached out to various individuals, corporate bodies, and government for support but it’s not forthcoming. What else should I do? Should I go and steal so that they will be happy? I almost lost my life as a result of rushing to Uyo on June 12 during the Uniuyo crisis, only for our Senate President and other NANS cadre to perish on the same road the following day. These are the risks we as student leaders put ourselves through just to serve. Then what do we get in return? Passing such judgement on me by the very people I risk everything for is really unfair to my person,”
The students’ leader lamented. He faulted their claim that he has not visited any campus stating that he had embarked on campus tour to various campuses across the country and emphasised that he has recorded several achievements especially his intervention in the Uniuyo crisis boasting that with the role he and other stakeholders played in bringing peace to the institution, academic activities will resume immediately the ASUU Strike is called off.
Concerning the ASUU Strike, the student leader stated that he has made several efforts towards finding a solution to the ASUU/FG face-off, the latest being a press release by the Akwa Ibom Student Leaders Forum (AKSLF) carried on national and local papers. While reiterating his commitment to the struggle, Comrade Marcus appealed to well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid as he vowed not to let students down.
- AfricaNewsPress
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