ENUGU— All the students in Nigeria, under the umbrella of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, will between September 30 and October 3, occupy the city of Kaduna in a peaceful protest against the quit notice served on Ndigbo residing in parts of northern Nigeria.
NANS said the “peace and unity rally” is part of its efforts to demonstrate the oneness of Nigeria.
The group while rejecting hate speeches and attempts to divide Nigeria, said that students were found among pro-Biafra groups as well as Arewa youths and, therefore, urged the Federal Government to end the tension in the country by bringing every group to a round table.
It, however, said ultmate peace cannot be achieved except there is fairness and equity.
In a press briefing in Enugu, yesterday, NANS National President, Aruna Kadiri, in a company of all national officals of the body, allayed fears of attack by the Northern youths and urged security agencies to live up to their billings.
Kadiri said: “Concerning the June 16, 2017 so-called Kaduna Declaration, NANS wishes to assure all Nigerians living anywhere in Nigeria that there should be no reason to fear or panic.”
“Whereas we are on the alert and ready to protect the Nigerian state, we call on security agencies to do their work effectively and to justify the huge tax that Nigerians pay for security votes.
“It is to this effect that NANS shall be occupying great city of Kaduna on a peace and unity rally starting from September 30-October 3, 2017 as part of our efforts to demonstrate the onesness of Nigeria.”
The students said the rally is to reassure people in the north and indeed the country that the country is united, adding that it was also their intention to occupy the psyche of the country with its message of peace and unity.
Kadiri said that Nigerian students want the federal government to engage all stakeholders to begin to find a lasting solution to vexed issues and douse the tension in the country.
“In between all these agitations there must be a solution which will keep Nigeria united, just and equitable.
It is very urgent because we are already in a state of emergency where youth corps members look for the nearest opportunity to redeploy on security grounds.
“We are saying that Nigeria must be one but in fairness and equity. All agitations must be considered by the government but we believe that with the steps we are taking Nigeria must be one,” said Kadiri.