Lagos students protest poll shift

STUDENTS from all tertiary institutions in Lagos State on Monday February 9, 2015 stormed the Governor’s Office, Alausa, Ikeja to protest against the postponement of the February 14 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The students included those from the Lagos State University (LASU), University of Lagos (UNILAG); Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH); Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH); Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED); Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka; Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED); Lagos State School of Health Technology and the Federal College of Fishery and Marine Technology.
They were led by Olayinka Jubril, a 400-Level student of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, LASU; the acting Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee (JCC ), Lagos axis.
They submitted a protest letter for onward transmission to President Goodluck Jonathan.
The protest letter, which was made available to Campusbeats, reads in part: “We decry the unjust shift in election date. We describe it as baseless, needless rapacious and a plate of pranks on the intelligence of well-meaning Nigerians. It is also a frightening scenario that constitutes clear and present danger. It is also failure and a huge embarrassment on INEC, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the armed forces, the Nigeria Police and the Federal Government at large.
“We regard it as an attempt to re-strategise the rigging plans of the Federal Government.”
Addressing pressmen, Jubril said: “NANS/JCC Lagos is the ideological platform and the only intellectual base of NANS in Nigeria. It is a body comprising the largest concentration of students in the entire sub-Sahara Africa.”
Speaking further, he said the students had resolved to to do everything to defend their votes and would resist further postponement with the last drop of our blood.
“Professor Jega should write a separate letter to Nigerians apologising for his failure to resign after he promised to resign rather than postpone election, encourage members (of the public) to roll out in their numbers to get their PVCs, as that is the only passport to contribute to the development of Nigeria.”