Oyo State Chapter of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS)has vehemently debunked the rumours and speculation going viral on social media that the body has collected money from Governor Seyi Makinde in order to put an end to EndSARS’ protest that lasted for completed two weeks in Oyo State and Nigeria at large.
The Chapter’s Chairman, Opakunle Oluwafunmibi Mayowa disclosed this in a release he personally signed in Ibadan and made available to naijatodaynews.com
According to him,”My attention has been drawn to the wide media aspersions on my office and personality, following a purported list of names of some individuals who was said to have received a certain sum of money during a visit to the Oyo state governor; Engr. Seyi Makinde, for a stakeholders meeting to the #ENDSARS protest which was intended to foster unity between the community and the police officers, to see an end to the police brutality which has led to uprises and agitations across the Nation in the last few weeks and restore normalcy in the state. This indeed is a laudable move, as the NANS body in the state originally have been at the forefront of the struggle, not just because the students predominantly have been the victim of police brutality, but as a means of contributing to request a better and more equitable society”.
” To this end, the students body in the state has learnt their support through its umbrella body to this course, actively and in line with rules guiding rights of citizens to protest against any unjust treatment on the citizens by the government or any of its organs”.
“Not deviating from the subject matter, let me directly address the point aimed against me. I have been falsely accused by a misleading information traveling through social media that I was a part of the meeting as a representative of the students wing, and as such was given a certain sum for being present and representing a body at the meeting. This allegation is not only untrue, but misleading and a terrible lie to tarnish my image and reputation. I would have ignored the falsity but the weight of the course to which the allegation was attached is heavy and ponderous”.
“Let me state clearly that, the students body (NANS therein referred) was never invited by the state government as a party to the meeting, thereby giving no reasons for my presence at such a meeting, as I will not only sound a fool of myself but a disgrace to the body I represent in the state, as an uninvited guest at the meeting. I asked people to seek facts rather to being swayed by gossips and hearsay. The bodies invited for the stakeholders meeting based on the information at my disposal are ARTISANS, OKADA/MICRA OPERATORS, YOUTHS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ENDSARS PROTESTERS, It is therefore clearly stated those who are party to the meeting. Now, those who claimed I was in the meeting and received a certain amount of money must face the sheer illogic of such assertions as there is no rationale that can explain why I would be paid or received any money from the state government for something I was never involved in or invited for”.
” This allegation against me falls to the ground as not just a heavy untruth but an alleged plan to turn me against the students to which I hold dearly their interests. For clarity of doubt, my name is OPAKUNLE OLUWAFUNMIBI MAYOWA as against the OPAKUNLE KAYODE which appeared on the list, also the former students’ Union President of Lautech, whose name was also said to have appeared on the list is ABIODUN OLUWASEUN and not FRIDAY ADESEGUN as stated on the list”.
“Reasons why we are a target of this peddled falsity and misconstrued assertions remain a source of concern, meanwhile it is this same set of people who hatefully ensured that the NANS body was never a part of the meeting in order to sabotage and lobby some positions with the state governor. We though take no offense for the ill talks, as we understand them to be born of the human nature and a usual cross of any public office or organization. It is only necessary that we clear the air even after we have laughed off the ignorance of many who naively spread such fake news; we understand that responses in love to hate is like heaping of coals of fire on the villains. I did understand fully that, people run away with information that suits their bias and animus, regardless of the truth, they though have the right to think as they may, but I leave them to the workings of their own conscience”.
“I would not fail to also appreciate all those who are well meaning for their concerns and support and also reiterates that the NANS JCC Oyo axis remain committed to good and active representation of the students in the axis”, Mayowa explained.
