The Convention Planning Committee, CPC of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS has urged the outgoing executives led by Umar Barambu to desist from interfering in the November 24th to 26th scheduled convention of the body.
The CPC Chairman, Adamu Kabir Matazu who addressed a press conference in Abuja said the past few weeks have been unfortunately that of unnecessary distractions, orchestrated by the outgolng President.
Matazu said while the CPC recognizes his exalted position as the President of NANS, good conscience and the eternal verdict of history wit! not allow us to condone his willful assault on the Constitution of NANS and the sensibilities of Nigerian Students.
“We therefore wish to send a straight, categorical and unequivocal message to the President of NANS, to desist from his antics and shenanigans which have no basis in the Constitution of NANS, and distracting the smocth transition programme piloted by the Convention Planning Committee under my leadership, heavily assisted by the Zonal Coordinators and other members of the CPC. The NANS President stands the risk of impeachment if he continues in this merchandize of mischief and mendacity, as students are very unhappy with his nefarious activities. To put the records straight, there is nowhere in the Constitution of NANS that grants power to the President to sack the leadership of the Convention Planning Committee as he comically claim to have done. He does not have even a sembiance of such powers.
” The sections quoted by the President In the vexatious Social Media Statement where he claimed to have removed the CPC Chairman has absolutely no relationship with the Convention Planning Committee. It is ridiculous and smack of ignorance for the President of NANS to refer to, and treat the CPC as a Standing Committee of NANS. All the Standing Committees of NANS are listed in Article 11, Sub-section 1 (i),and there ts no mention of the CPC there. The Constitution of NANS treats the CPC as a distinct Independent committee because of its role in election management, and so that it can operate outside the whims and caprices of the President. It Is clear that the Constitution of NANS envisaged a situation where a President may have a partisan Interest and want to use a puppet CPC to achieve It. And that Is why It removed the power of control of the CPC from the President, by making i the only committee in NANS with the ratification of the Senate.
As we have noted sadly, the history and trajectory of these shenanigans. It started by the setting up of booby traps and landmines in the CPC by the constituting sub-committees of the CPC. Thereafter, the Senate President, (working in alignment with the President) planned a most unconstitutional Virtual Emergency Senate Meeting which was roundly defeated for having no bearing with the Constitution of NANS. It then followed another utter display of unfathomable desperation, as three (3) out of n nety-seven (97) members of CPC masquerading under the unconstitutional appellation of “Principal (*ficers” daimed that they have passed a vote of no confidence on the CPC Chairman and appointed one of the conspirators as the Acting Chairman. Finally as expected, the outgoing NANS President who has all along been beh nd these charades had to show his face fully by Issuing a statement through the Socal Media which he claimed that he has removed the CPC Chairman and appointed one impostor as Acting Chairman. All the sections he quoted from the constitution only show his poor knowledge of the NANS Constitution as they do not relate to the subject he wished to deal with. Let us just affirm and reassure Nigerian Students that we are not distracted by all the actions of the outgoing President. We have indeed continued to perform our duties to ensure that we deliver a credible NANS Convention. As we speak, the verification of claims of aspirants was concluded just yesterday, in line with the timetable of the CPC. The reports of Screening and Verification Sub-committee is hereby expected to reach the Chairman of CPC before the end of today, Friday, November 27, 2023. Thereafter, it will be published for public consumption. It is Important to note that there is a little adjustment in date of the Convention in order to forestall a Constitutional crisis, because any date in December could create a situation where the Constitutional tenure of the Present Exco may elapse while Convention fs still ongoing. For the avoidance of doubt, Article 15, Sub-section 1(i), (ii) (iil) states that the tenure of NANS Exco Is fifteen(15) months, after which no officer can remain in office. This Exco was elected on September 3, 2022 and ts expected to vacate office on December 3, 2023. As for the issue of venue, It is true that the Pre-Convention Senate meeting approved Gombe State for the Convention. But from the floor of the Senate, there were protests, These protests have continued due to the security concerns and the experience of NANS in the 2016 NANS Convention in Gombe where students were attacked, beaten and the Convention was hijacked with the help of local authorities. The horrible memory of that 2016 Gombe Convention remains a torture to most participants. Even as we speak, there are series of records of students who fell Into captivity in recent times in parts of the North. Moving thousands of students through the Northeast Is not yet advisable. Wisdom dictates that the Convention should hold in a venue with maximum security and mutual accessibility. The security of students and comrades are of paramount interest and above every other pecuniary Interests and considerations. Drawing therefore from the powers of the CPC under Artie 15, Sub-section 4, Paragraphili (f) which states that the “Convention Planning Committee shail take any other step necessary for the smooth conduct of the convention,” it is incumbent on us to make these adjustments to ensure a hitch-free Convention.
To this end, we are happy to announce a review of the Convention Timetable as follows: DATE
Thursday, November 23, 2023 — Arrival
Friday, November 24, 2023 —Registration.
Saturday, November 25, 2023 — Accreditation and Voting.
Sunday, November 26, 2023 – Departure.
VENUE
Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
Consequentiy, all Sub-committees are hereby directed to submit their comprehensive budgets within 48 hours to the CPC Secretariat for immediate consideration and mobilization of funds to enable them start the execution of their programmes.
We have also noted with utter dismay, the shameful activities of Dafoum Nankin and Clifford Akwaowo, Secretary of CPC. They have invested so much energy and resources towards destabilizing the CPC and truncating the Convention, for reasons only known to them. Consequently, the CPC hereby suspends them from their positions as Deputy Chairman and Secretary respectively of the CPC, having lent themselves to the ignoble job of Fifth Columnists and agents of destabilization. Therefore, Comrades Dominic Ogbu Eveh and Usman Ayuba are hereby appointed as Deputy Chairman and Secretary of CPC respectively.
Furthermore, a Local Organizing Committee is hereby established to assist the CPC in the focal organization of the Convention. The Advisory Council of the LOC is headed by Comrade Mukhtar Akosh, while Comrade Atabor Solomon Anebe heads the LOC. Other members of the LOC will be published immediately.
This CPC wishes to assure all aspirants of a level playing field, transparency and faimess in all issues concerning their aspirations in this Convention.
We wish to also assure the Nigerian Students of our total commitment to a colourful and peaceful Convention. We thank you for your patience, understanding and support. Together, we shall move NANS forward and defend the truest spirit of the struggie. Thank you. Aluta Continua! Victoria acertal
