Here is the full interview of Taiwo Bamigbade, NANS Senate Presidential Aspirant on OAU Wikileaks whatsapp group
Comrade Egalitarian: Good evening Mr moderator,press men,cadres and all gallant comrades in the house......Sorry for the delay
Moshood: Can you briefly introduce yourself sir?
Comrade Egalitarian: I am Taiwo Bamigbade
School:Federal University of Technology Akure,Ondo state
Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics
Aspirant for Senate Presidency, National Association of Nigerian Students
Moshood: As a student of the federal university of Technology, Akure, how have you contribute to your local union?
Comrade Egalitarian: I've contributed to the growth of my local union in my little capacity...
As a former chairman of Akindeko Hall of Residence in FUTA...I agitated for the reinstatement of the 21 suspended active student leaders of my hall of residence which we achieved..
Secondly, I approached the University management for the total renovation of my hall of residence
As Vice President, FUTA SUG
We agitated for the construction of speed braker on FUTA Northgate expresse road..
Secondly, I organized a befitting orientation for freshers and we were able to ensure that there was no school fee increment during our time and so on..
"Comrade Egalitarian; Firstly, I want to sincerely appreciate the initiator of this arrangement. May you run out of good idea..
Comrade Egalitarian;Firstly, I want to sincerely appreciate the initiator of this arrangement. May you NEVER run out of good idea.."
Spiritdrunk: Why the choice of aspiring for the position of NANS SENATE PRESIDENT? What are the challengea you have considered affecting NANS over time?What do you consider as the current challenge facing NANS in the office of the senate president of NANS?
Comrade Egalitarian:The major challenge is a man-made one which is the inability of the leadership to bring our senators together to take positions on various national issues negatively affecting the common existence of Nigerian Students and masses at large...
Spiritdrunk: Alright, thanks so much
The next question on this:
How do you intend to bring NANS Senators together?
Comrade Egalitarian:Regular convey of interactive sessions with senators state by state,zone by zone and national Senate sitting to cross fertilize ideas..
Moshood: With recent condemnations, developments and reactions by various students' bodies over alleged unbecoming activities of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), it is obvious that the Association have lost its face with several compromise at various layers. These range from allegations of giving awards to politicians and businessmen to issuing out statements in support of one politician or party. These developments are complete deviation from the
ideals of pressure group like which the past NANS leadership like Lanre Arogundade and Ogunlana Oludare was known for as the official mouthpiece of the Nigerian
students and last hope for the masses of this country. With all these, what do you think is the reason for the collapse of NANS and weakness of ideological movement in the country? How do you intend to approach these issues if elected and restore the glory of NANS?
Comrade Egalitarian: To restore the glory of NANS requires a collective approach from senators to National executives to Senate leadership..With the support and cooperation of all,this can be achieved..Also, some issues are mend to be subjected to Senate ratification..We shall work tirelessly to
Rebrand this organization
Regain public confidence &
Entrone discipline and decorum
Moshood: If elected, how do you intend to change this ugly scenario? How do you intend to incorporate parliamentary leadership of student unions in to NANS legislative arm and spread the ideals of the association to campuses through this platform?
Comrade Egalitarian: This is one of my area of interest, their incorporation will take a zonal and state arrangement...
Our Senate leadership will create an interphase with the parliament of each union per state and zone where resolutions of their sitting will always be critically looked into and to have a good working relationship with NANS...
Our leadership will be seriously interested in the freshers orientation ceremony of local unions the forum will be used to preached the workings of NANS...
Moshood: Alright sir.
It has gotten to the point where Staff Unions are
interested in helping NANS cleanse its own house, this is a big shame on the image of the NANS, considering the fact that no student or youth organization can meddle in the activities of pressure groups like ASUU, How do you think the status of NANS can be reviewed from its current status and be relevant in the Nigerian polity just like Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) , Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) amongst others? How do you think in-house cleansing can be done in this association and repositioned?
Comrade Egalitarian; In-house cleansing requires a concerted approach..There is total collapse in our moral system in Nigeria and this can be seen in the shameful manner both labour unions and trade union are conducting their activities..So, they at first clean their house and the effect will be felt in NANS
Our leadership will begin in-house cleaning with:
With regular convey of Senate sitting,
Visitation to local union through campus tour and
Through organizing public lectures,enlightenment programmes
Spiritdrunk: Alright sir, thanks so much
From me sir:
What is your view on independent unionism because we have considered over time that the issue of Students victimization and Union Proscription cripple our Students Union in Nigeria, And how is the workability, that is, how possible do you think it is?
Comrade Egalitarian: Independent unionism is possible..This can be achieved when there is a harmonious relationship between local unions and NANS and each member unions should be interested in NANS activities
Moshood: What of the aspect of tackling management vindictive suspension of union activities? And what of the financial management aspect without recourse to getting fund from University authorities?
Comrade Egalitarian: Of course, we have some oppressive management in some of our tertiary institutions...We will be tactical and logical in our approach...
3Cs of struggle must be adopted
Consultation
Consolidation
and
Confrontation
Local unions should devise a means of getting fund other than running to school authority all the time.
Moshood;Now to pressure groups, how do you think NANS can have effective relationship with Labour unions as they will be important in coordinating joint practical actions? The MKO restoration mandate campaign and the Alli Must go struggle lend credence to this. How do you think NANS can liase effectively with Labour Unions?
Comrade Egalitarian;Our leadership will liaise with pressure groups and Labour unions to champion the course of Nigerian masses as this remain the major way of regaining public confidence.
Moshood:How will you regain the confidence of these people because I can remember a renowned Labour Union activist saying they don't know who to meet when it is time to champion pro students course, as among students themselves most of their organizations organizations are occupied and led by government agents,school drop out and yours, how do you intend to gain the confidence of these people?
Comrade Egalitarian:We will float a leadership with concrete working relationship with Labour unions,trade unions and other pro students organizations..
Moshood: Now to the economy, the economic recession globally transpiring as a result of glut in the oil market is all over everywhere. The Saudi Arabian government borrowed recently for the first in decades to prove this. Nigeria is not left out of this scenario with cut in government infrastructure on the rise with alarming unemployment rate, including the fact that all the major sectors are in shambolic state. If elected, how do you intend to influence government policies to favour the youths? How do you intend to advocate for the upward funding of the education sector and monitor the spending in various higher institutions?
Comrade Egalitarian: I was in a serious meeting with a college provost today discussing on *funding of technical education in Nigeria*...
Our Senate leadership will strongly float an advocacy campaign on *Funding of technical education* in Nigeria this is my area of focus..
China,Japan and Korea heavily invest on *technical education* as this remain an alternative way of diversifying national economy with particular focus on Youth involvement in Agriculture...
Cost of Governance..
Our leadership shall tirelessly appeal and agitate for a drastic reduction on government spending s..
Proper funding of technical education in Nigeria remains the only way out of this present economic malady...egalitarian 2016
Moshood: Do you think the youth can go in to Agriculture without plan premised on mechanized farming, with at least financial aid, and besides the agro industries instrumental in achieving mechanized farming is very weak in the country, if elected, how will the Senate leadership under your administration liase with the executive arm of NANS and go about this?
Comrade Egalitarian:Yes, some College Provosts are doing fantastic job on youth in Agriculture Programme...This we will promote and encourage..With proper funding and support from Government,the present economic situation of Nigeria will disappear into history.. Youth are fast creating interest in Agriculture...
Proper funding of technical education in Nigeria remains the only way out of this present economic malady...egalitarian
I'm very sure of this..
Moshood: We have come to the end of the interview. Thank you very much Comrade Egalitarian for honoring this interview.
Comrade Egalitarian:Thanks great people here....One love!
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