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The leadership of two student-led associations in Ondo state have indicated interest to work for the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his bid to return as governor in the November 2024 election in the state.
The groups, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), who came in their numbers, were received by the deputy governor, Olayide Adelami, at the cocoa conference hall of the governor’s office, Alagbaka in Akure, on Thursday.
Addressing the gathering, Ahmed Oyelade, national president of NAOSS, revealed the association’s plans and stance on this year’s Ondo state governorship election, saying the body cannot afford to change a performing governor.
According to him, “Aiyedatiwa has done tremendously well in the area of education since he assumed office a few months ago. He has displayed an uncommon passion and commitment to education at all levels. I can tell that he has started very well and there is no limit to what he will do for students in Ondo state.
“It is exciting to hear that the governor gave a grant of N1.2bn for infrastructural development at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) and also paid backlog of salaries to staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO).”
Oyelade disclosed that a body, christened Aiyedatiwa Students Movement, has been birthed by NAOSS and NANS in the state and will serve as a vehicle to spread the campaign message of the governor to the 18 local government areas of Ondo state. He, thereafter, decorated the governor as patron of the movement.
Rasheed Salami, acting chairman of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of NANS in Ondo state, showered encomium on the governor for his life-changing policies and programs in the education sector.
In his words, “the governor came very prepared, as he wasted no time to kick-start his numerous programs. He is gradually and confidently executing his REDEEMED agenda on education and we must support him to move our state forward. We are ready to work for you”.
Corroborating his colleague, Henry Okunomo, national clerk of NANS, gave a number of reasons why the various student bodies and all other non-political organizations are endorsing the governor. While thanking the governor for receiving them at short notice, Okunomo presented the demands of the association to the governor, and requested the governor’s nod to start campaigning for him.
The governor, in his response, said he will look into their demands and continue to partner with them to improve the standard of education in the state.
“We are paying attention to education in Ondo state and we will continue along this path. Let me inform you that you can go ahead and tell our message to the people in the state but you must do it in a manner devoid of violence. Our vision for education is to be a thriving destination for knowledge acquisition and innovation, and we will never be distracted” the governor said.
