It is often said that all what it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.

Democracy is under attack again, nowhere this time around other than in the National Association of Abia State Students (National body). The recent developments, administrative malady and shenanigan tendencies of the incumbent national Executive Council are not unnoticed. It is no longer news that this incumbent set of executives have been holding on to power for the last three years, which is against the sacrosanct Constitution of our dear association.

It has been revealed that this executives are virtually no longer bonafide members of NAASS as many of them are not students of any institution of higher learning in Nigeria and thus, their membership is far long questionable. Section 30 of the NAASS Constitution provides that “A student is deemed or qualified to be a member of the association if He/She is an identified academic student of any University, Polytechnic, Colleges of Education, College of Health, Schools of Journalism or any recognized institution of higher learning.” Hence, the lingering stay in office of these so called leaders is against the Constitution. Enough of recycling power among a privileged few who found joy in robbing innocent members of NAASS of their rights and privileges.

Rather laughable is the imminent staged national conference expected to hold tomorrow, Sunday May 23rd, 2021. May it be on record that the notice and publicity of this conference is not only short but the call is undemocratic as many chapters of NAASS that are not aware of this conference would be denied of attendance. Section 31 of NAASS Constitution spelt of mode of convening national convention. It is logical and lawful that ALL chapters of NAASS be carried along for and in this convention. National convention is not a family meeting, but a convention and should be treated as such.

It is now an open secret that this league of leaders are planning to go ahead in organising a kangaroo general elections after the Convention. This will not only disenfranchise lawful voters but also see to the ascension of puppets of this executives into power. This is nothing but an attempt to drag NAASS into the state of unitary and military government. This is undemocratic. By the combined effect of Sections 29 and 41(b) of NAASS Constitution, guildlines for worldwide (national) elections are well provided for.

OUR DEMANDS
1. That the elections planned to hold after the pseudo-national convention of 23rd May, 2021 should be placed on hold until all chapters of NAASS are well notified.
2. That another date should be fixed for a virtual national convention that will be attended by members in and outside southeast Nigeria and diaspora.
3. That the notice/publicity of the convention be intensified as to reach all NAASSites across the Federation.
4. That the Executive Council should give a well detailed account of her activities at the Convention.
5. That the date, and electioneering process be decided in the virtual convention in order to ensure complete representation of students’ interest in the general election
6. That the Executives should explain why bursary has not been disbursed to the generality of NAASS over the years.

OUR ACTION
May it be on record that should the national executive council failed to respect our demands, we are ready to pull out of NAASS (national) to form a parallel democratic body as all machinery to actualise this are fully on ground.

We hereby urge all stakeholders to wade into the dwindling state of our dear Association so as to salvage it from irreparable catastrophe.

God bless NAASS
God bless Abia
God bless Nigeria.
Signed by NAASS Chapters in;
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State
University of Nigeria, Nsuka, Enugu state
Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State
University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus,
Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu state
Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu state
Pieceland college of Education
Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos
Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun
Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Cc:
HE, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Executive Governor of Abia State
Abia State government
Federal Ministry of Education, Abia State
Commissioner of Education, Abia State
Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth & Sports
NAASS National Executives
NAASS National Senate
All NAASS Chapter Presidents.