Edith CHUKU, PH/
Godwin AJOM, Calabar
Worried by the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to reach a compromise with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, some parents whose children are affected have asked God not to forgive leaders of the nation.
Most parents who spoke with TNN expressed displeasure that every attempt made to ensure the re-opening of universities across the country had proved abortive.
While some supported the actions and demands of ASUU, urging the union to stand their ground, others appealed that the strike be called off, claiming that the current federal government has no regard for education, therefore, will do nothing to resolve the issues that necessitated the strike.
There are those who believe that issues such as the lingering ASUU strike, insecurity, unemployment, will help the electorate make their choice of leaders wisely in the forthcoming 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
A respondent to TNN’s interview on the matter, Chief Nwonukwuru Friday, said: “Let ASUU call off the strike, that is my take. The federal government, the people ruling this country have no regard for education; they don’t care. I have tenants in my house, I see beggars on the road, I do have pity for them, even when it is my money, I have compassion, how can our leaders be this wicked to their own people?
“When I think about this country I always feel like crying, how can we be begging people we gave power to represent us, how can we be begging them to use our money to help us? How long are we going to be suffering and smiling? See, God will not forgive them; God will not forgive those so called leaders that derive joy in our pain.”
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When asked the way forward, he said, “ASUU should please, I beg them in the name of God, they should call off the strike. I support them o, yessss! I support them one hundred and one per cent, but our children are suffering, my two children are in Uniport, I know what I am saying, they should call off the strike and let’s be patient, if God answers our prayers with Peter Obi, ASUU will never strike again.”
For Mrs. Rosemary Worlu, “this is a lesson to Nigerians, if we will learn. All these problems are so that we will not sell our votes, and we will not vote the wrong person.
“All these things happening now are so that as election will start, we will shine our eyes and vote the right people, that is what I think. I think that these things are happening for a purpose, especially now that election will soon start.”
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Also speaking, Gabriel Nweke who sells building materials at the Rumuokwuta axis of Rivers State said“let ASUU stand their ground, I support them. Let them stand their ground; our leaders are deaf, they only hear and understand strike, protest. Nigerians are suffering, hunger everywhere, look at my shop, since you came how many people have come here to even price something? People are suffering.
“I know that students have to return to school like you said, but if ASUU calls off this strike, that is the end, they will not achieve why they did this for. It is a pity because na we dey suffer am but I have noticed that this Nigeria, if we don’t shout, I mean shout, like protest, strike those politicians will not hear.
The respondents described the unending strike as worrisome, wondering why meetings and deliberations with the union and relevant government agencies to resolve the issues have yielded no tangible result, as students continue to stay at home, with some allegedly involving themselves in illicit activities.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU) University of Calabar chapter has confirmed the loss of no fewer than 12 lecturers since the strike began.
This was confirmed by the chapter chairman of ASUU, Dr. John Edor in Calabar. Edor however insisted that the Union despite intimidation and neglect by the federal government will not give up on its insistence on their demands until the government meets their demands.
“The truth is, we have lost about 12 members of the union between the commencement of the strike (February 2022) and now(September 2022). This is obviously decreasing our human resource as a country.
“The government has not provided a conducive environment devoid of all impediments we know that the government does not care.We will continue to cope with whatever losses we have had; we will continue to embrace all the hazards, we are not ready to give in because of hunger, intimidation or court action , we are ready to take this fight to a logical end until the necessary things are done which the government ought to do,” Edor said.
