The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has applauded the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for swiftly commencing action towards securing justice for late Ejike Okeke, a student of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, who was unfortunately hit by a stray bullet during the #EndSARS protest hijacked by miscreants.
In a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Coordinator, NANS Zone B (South-South, South-East) Comr. Darlington Ugwuegbe and NANS Chairman, Enugu State, Comr. Romanus Ogene, the Nigerian students expressed satisfaction that “the Gov. Ugwuanyi-led administration has immediately swung into action, dispatching government delegation to pay condolences to all bereaved families of the #EndSARS protest and initiating an investigation panel geared towards identifying perpetrators of these crimes”.
They added that the state government has also gone further “to demonstrate pro-activeness by setting up a panel on victims of #EndSARS protest, to investigate and ascertain peculiar cases surrounding every victim of the protests and report for urgent government action”, in line with their demands.
NANS stressed that “these urgent actions by the Gov. Ugwuanyi administration clearly demonstrate responsiveness and forthrightness of government”, and have gone further to reaffirm “our faith and trust in the current administration”.
According to NANS leaders, “As the highest students leadership body, we are also elated that the government of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has ushered Enugu State students into a new phase of inclusion where classroom students will be involved and carried along in every committee, panels, boards and delegation. From where we stand, it demonstrates the administration’s belief in the latent potentials of a student.
“Instructively, while there is the long argument about palliatives, the leadership of Enugu State students vehemently refuses to tread the ignorant path remembering that Gov. Ugwuanyi remains the only governor in Nigeria that gave students palliatives during the COVID-19 lockdown, a gesture that Enugu State students will not forget in a hurry.
“We clearly understand that this is a trying time for our dear state and our nation but we trust in the strength of the governor’s compassionate character to manage all emotions and sentiments that have been stirred up by the events of the past few days.
“Finally, we urge the members of the constituted panel to strive to live up to the demands of their mandate while we continue to maintain relations with the state government to ensure that investigations are fruitful”.
