By Matthew Denis
The Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah has reacted to the 48hours ultimatum issued by the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) to the institution’s management to declare the just concluded students’ union election null and void.
Na’Allah, while speaking with our correspondent at the Ilorin International Airport at the weekend, however called on the leadership of Kwara State students to come to the negotiating table with the institution’s management.
“The said statement issued by NAKSS is in no way a threat to the institution. I, however, call on the executives of NAKSS to come to the negotiating table with the school authority to sort out their grudges,” the Vice Chancellor said.
NAKSS had in a statement signed on Tuesday by National President, Comr. Musa Muhammad Mancha, the Senate President, Sen. Abdulazeez Ahmad El-Immam and the National Publicity Secretary, Comr. Salihu Ayatullahi, said the exclusion of Abdulbasit AbdulRahman was undemocratic.
The statement reads; “Following several calls on the alleged irregularities that marred the just concluded Students’ Union election of the university, as a body entrusted with the responsibility of defending and standing for the interest of every of her members and having studied the election reports critically, NAKSS is hereby requesting the management of the Kwara State University, Malete to produce very valid and worthy reason(s) for the screening out of one of the two presidential aspirants, Abdulbasit AbdulRahman of the department of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) on election day.
“To submit a detailed report of the just concluded election and investigate the alleged involvement of the Dean, Students’ Affairs Unit, Dr. Abubakar Alaro and some external bodies in the election process.
“If not able to provide any of above, the management should declare the election null and void and a fresh election should be conducted within 15days, with all aspirants given equal rights to contest.”
NAKSS alleged that by disqualifying one of the aspirants the management of the institution denied the students their fundamental rights of voting and being voted for.
“Failure to heed to above stipulated conditions within the next 48-hour would warrant the National headquarters of the National Association of Kwara State Students (both the senate and executives) to move our secretariats to Malete campus of Kwara State University and the school should be ready to accommodate 10,000 students, which we fear may bring an avoidable standstill to the school.”
