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Some Nigerians on social media over the weekend condemned the call by the President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, that the leaders who have allowed the union’s strike to linger should be voted out of power during the 2023 general elections.
Osodeke said his union was mobilising and enlightening Nigerians on why and how they should use their voter cards.
The ASUU president, who spoke at a recent media interaction aired by the Africa Independent Television (AIT) lamented the poor response of the Nigerian government to his union’s agitation. The posted on AIT’s Twitter page.
He accused the government of insensitivity towards the plight of Nigerian students, parents and the university system, saying it allowed the ivory towers to be shut down in February.
He said Nigerians should vote out all those who have watched the ASUU strike to linger on for almost six months.
“We also appeal to Nigerians, this is their life. And the beauty is that, in the next five to six months, there is an election, they should hold their PVC. For all those who have subjected them to this, they should vote them out. It’s their right. They should use the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).
“We are mobilising Nigerian people. We are educating Nigerian people to know that the present set of leaders have no feelings for Nigerian students, and have no feelings for Nigeria as a country. And that is why they are looking down on the education system, allowing the universities to be shut down for almost six months without response,” Osodeke said.
While the ASUU President did not mention any leader or political party, many Nigerians assumed his comment was directed at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and accused the union of being political with its current industrial action.
A twitter user, @StFreakingKezy worte: “ASUU is just the education wing of PDP.”
Another user, @GbengaGOLD, said: “ASUU has shown their hand and I hope FG will simply take them to the Industrial Court and get a judgement that forces them back to work. Clearly partisan at this point.”
“The ASUU President confirmed the strike was about next year’s election. Well, most sensible Nigerians knew that a long time ago hence the deliberate stalling and refusal to bend. It’s unfortunate they’re making many suffer including their members,” @dryaks tweeted.
Another tweet by @ahafizmarusa reads: “The negotiation is likely not happening soon. ASUU has taken a political stance maybe to blackmail FG into submission but it might backfire and at the end we the students will continue to suffer their failure to reconcile this issue.”
A tweep, @lanrehussien, wrote: “How do we ensure a vote of no confidence and change this igbo man as ASUU Prez? He is playing Obigotry card and nothing else. He is Igbo and typically they show their hands! He has to go..#ASUUPresidentMustGo”
“Wow. A body with a history of repeated strikes believes our university students are gullible that past, current & future students all vote on one topic or agenda.Everyone should do X or Y for future generations yet never said what he or ASUU too will do for future generations,” @T_AkinLaguda wrote.
@nvwole said: “ASUU should just register as a political party too. Enough of this their lẹgbẹ – lẹgbẹ opposition.”