NANS President Opens Up On His Feelings About Jonathan

Tijani Usman

Tijani Usman is the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS.
He recently spoke with naij.com on why the association is supporting Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan for a re-election.

Tijani Usman

What’s your take on the forthcoming elections?

We want to seek the indulgence of Nigerian students to be calm and not allow themselves to be used by the politicians. Their children would have been sent abroad and they will now ask us to stay here and fight. We are telling our students that their lives matter a lot to us.

There was a time when NANS presented the President with an Award, are you privy to that?

Yes, I was there. NANS is being guided by the constitution and we have an antecedent on that. So, we actually gave him the award. This is because he has done tremendously well for the association, I must emphasize this.

Does that mean you are endorsing President Jonathan as your candidate?

The association of NANS is continuity, so we can barely change the setting. Over the past few administrations, things have not really changed. So even if as the NANS president, I want to change some things, they will be few. We are not for violence and we appreciate good leadership.
Are you stating categorically that you are supporting the president because he has helped you a lot?

Yes, the present leadership has helped us a lot. There are 12 federal tertiary institutions established by the present administration, the current administration has also helped in the area of curbing the ASUU strike by allocating about 220billion Naira to the Union to stop the unending industrial action. ASUU’s grievances have accumulated from about past five administrations but it was this government that helped out the issue. The amount ran into trillions of Naira but the government said it would pay in four installments. The initial deposit has not yielded any positive result as far as NANS is concerned because we asked to be part of the implementation committee but that was not done. The present administration also created the Almajiri schools in the north and we have to give the President kudos for that. We are saying that he has swayed towards education and I, as the president of the Nigerian students, will fight with my last blood for the welfare of Nigerian students.
But do you think the president will win the election?

Yes, President Jonathan will win come February 14 2015 by God’s Grace.
What are his chances?

His chances of winning are very bright and has to do with common sense and not like those who have rented crowds for campaign and make noise with their propaganda and distraction Watch and see the winning margin. Jonathan’s chances of winning is 60%. Jonathan is the ordained President.
But some of your subordinates are against this stand of yours? What are you saying to this?

That’s not true, can you sight an instance because for me and my excos, we have agreed on this long ago except some few union leaders but majority are with me, take note please.
And if Jonathan doesn’t win?

We will take to fate because power is of God and God is with Jonathan and us. We are peace loving Nigerians unlike the violent counterpart. Nigerians must be united come rain, come shine.