NUJ condemns violence, students demand compensation
From Uzoma Nzeagwu, Awka
MEMBERS of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Anambra State, have described the three-day crisis in the state in which both public and private property were destroyed as a threat to law and order.
The union said the hoodlums, who had a free course throughout the duration of the violence, must be brought to book to convince the people that the Federal Government does not encourage lawlessness.
But students in tertiary institutions in the state have asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which supporters allegedly carried out the arson, to replace their burnt Mercedes luxury bus with two of its model within seven days. They also demanded compensation for their members whose property were destroyed by the party's thugs.
The students, under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, warned that if the PDP failed to meet their demands after the expiration of the ultimatum, they would take the battle to the corridors of the perpetrators of the violence.
They equally asked the party to apologise in writing to them and the people of state for the attacks.
In a statement, the state NUJ Chairman, Mr. Chris Aghanya and the General Secretary, Mr. Franze Ndulue, described the activities of the thugs as a display of lawlessness.
The NUJ said: "We unequivocally condemn in its ramifications the brazen display of acts of lawlessness and wanton destruction of public property by the rampaging hoodlums".
The union solicited the quick intervention of the Federal Government by calling those behind the violence to order.
"We also call on the federal authorities to protect Nigeria's democracy by calling to order the perpetrators of these dastardly acts", Aghanya said.
The Joint Campus Committee of NANS in the state, however, praised the maturity shown by entire students of Nnamdi Azikwe University, other institutions and the public for keeping calm throughout the days of provocation by those it called "hooligans and rampaging PDP supporters".
They condemned the wide-scale destruction and threats to lives, lamenting that the students were the targets.
"We condemn in strongest terms the burning of a Mercedes luxury bus that we bought in 2003 with our hard-earned money and other property by these hoodlums in the name of PDP led by the newly-constituted executive", they said.
They pointed out that they have failed in their attempt to provoke students into rioting.
A statement made available to The Guardian by the Joint Campus Committee, the Chairman of NANS, Anambra State chapter, Mr. Iloh Golden Chukwuebuka, Deputy Co-ordinator of NANS Zone B, Geof Iheanache Emmanuel and the President, Student Union Government (SUG) Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH), Uli Nnamdi Nweke, read: "We commend the maturity displayed by the students of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, other institutions and the general public for not joining issues with the hooligans suspected to be PDP members in their most unlawful vandalisation of state and university property".
They expressed surprise that the state Police Command, the Inspector General of Police (I.G), Mr. Tafa Balogun and the Presidency, watched the whole episode running for three days without bordering about the safety of lives and property of citizens in the state.
"We wonder why such fragrant abuse of law and order with the high degree of destruction of property lasted for several days, with the police and other security agencies in the state watching helplessly.
"We urge the Nigeria Police to live up to its responsibilities by not only arresting and bringing to book the perpetrators of this dastardly acts, but also ensuring that such ugly incident does not re-occur", NANS said.
It warned that students and citizens of Anambra in particular and Nigerians in general, would not fail to adopt means of self-defense.
NANS charged the state government not to be distracted by the activities of these anti-democratic and unprogressive elements but continue to respond to the challenges of providing the people with the desired infrastructure.
The union further enjoined its members to remain calm but to be on the alert so as to put these "enemies of the state and people in opposition to democratic rule to shame".
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