By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Marvelled by the humongous amount of money politicians are paying to obtain the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest for the post of President while the universities are closed for many months, a Clergyman has tasked all the presidential aspirants to contribute money to end the nationwide strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
This call was made in Abuja on Thursday, May 19, 2022, by Reverend Father George Ehusani, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lokoja, who decried the continued closure of the universities in Nigeria while the politicians are using huge amount of money to buy political party forms.
The one-time Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, who spoke at a One-day Roundtable On National Issues organised by Development Specs Academy (DSA) held at Nigerian Army Resource Center, Abuja, said if Nigerians will take the presidential aspirants especially in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seriously, they contribute millions of naira to solve the ASUU strike.
According to the fiery Cleric, those aspirants who paid huge amount of money to obtain nomination forms to run for their parties primary elections should also contribute money to settle ASUU so that our children can go back to the classrooms.
Said he: “those who paid N100 million to buy APC nomination forms to contest for the
presidential ticket should equally come together to contribute money to meet the demand of ASUU so they can reopen the universities”.
Reverend Father Ehusani who spoke on the topic: ‘State of the Nation’ decried the multifaceted problems in the country which include economic hardship, insecurity, high level corruption and moral decadence.
He likened Nigeria to a vehicle that has knocked engine, arguing that it will need a good auto-mechanic to fix it back just as he advocated for a Nigeria that works for every citizen irrespective of tribe, tongue and religious affiliation.
Said he: “Nigeria is suffering from “Resource Curse”. This is a fact or how can one rationalize the situation that our nation is so rich be blinded. Look out the number of natural resources we have in every state of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)”.
“If you scratch the ground in Nigeria you will mineral resources yet we are very poor and backward nation”.
On the 2023 Presidential Election, the human rights defender asked the youth to play important part in voting in a capable person who will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023 by interrogating the candidates who will be thrown up by the 18 political parties.
“We need completely a New Nigeria and for that to be possible, the citizens especially the youths must rise up to enthrone a New Nigeria. A New Nigeria is possible if the youths are ready for it and the time is now”, Ehusani posited.
However, Ehusani who is the Executive Director and Lead Faculty of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, has berated the PDP for jettisoning its time-tested “Rotational Presidency” which is in its Constitution.
Said he: “It is strange to learn that PDP has thrown its Presidential ticket open to all-comers. I will urge PDP not to deny the South East its turn to produce the next Presidential candidate of the party”.
“If you are doing zoning, continue until it goes round and if you are doing quota system, go ahead until it goes round. For equity and justice the South East zone should not be denied its turn to produce Presidential
aspirant for PDP”.
Meanwhile, the Convener of ‘Roundtable On National Issues’ and Executive Director, DSA, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu has called on Nigerian youths to use their numerical strength to make a change in the upcoming general elections.
He advised the youths to participate in the elections than being only social media warriors, adding that the #EndSARS showed that youths can get what they want if they pull together.
Dr. Amaechi Anakwue, anchor of People and Politics on African Independent Television (AIT) who spoke on the topic: Presidential Aspirants challenged the youths to be organised to make their voices to be heard.
Among those who spoke at the event are Social Activist cum Current Affairs Analyst Mojeed Dahiru; Professors Jim Unah and Atai Ogbogbo as well as Dr. Hyelodi Haruna who spoke on The Youth Crisis , National Productivity and Value of Naira.
