Sylvester ororomi's Death: NANS advises Commissioner of Police to focus on policing Lagos and...

Late Sylvester and NANS President

The Revolutionary President of National Association of Nigerian Students, Comrade Adedayo Sunday Asefon has advised the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state to focus on policing Lagos following the remark by Mr Hakeem Odumosu who is the Lagos state commissioner of police on the Jurisdiction of NANS. 

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Comrade Asefon, pointed out that NANS Jurisdiction covers Elementary schools and secondary schools, however, students in those schools are not financial member but NANS considers Their welfare and agitate for same when the need arises. 

His statement reads "

" My attention has been drawn to the remark of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr Hakeem Odumosu on the jurisdiction of NANS.

Mr Odumosu had errorneously claimed that NANS is not concerned by activities of students and pupils in both primary and secondary schools. Hence, NANS have no business demanding justice on the death of Sylvester Ororomi. Naturally knowing the kind of negative attention the Commissioner has drawn recently, especially on what many Nigerians regarded as abuse of officially privileges, we would have spared him our response. However, it is imperative to educate unsuspecting public who might ignorantly take the comment of the Commissioner serious. It is also important to state that being a Police Commissioner is not enough to assume jurisdiction over issues that you hitherto lack authority on or assume the place of the law, interpreter of the law and enforcer of same.

NANS is the National Association of Nigerian Students and not National Association of Tertiary Institution Students as the Lagos Commissioner would have wanted it, to avoid scrutiny on the very questionable handling of Sylvester's death, rather than answering the questions and concern raised by NANS, the Commissioner decided to look for a cheap way out by assuming authority and declaring that Secondary and Primary School is not under the jurisdiction of NANS. Our funding fathers knew exactly what they were doing when they named the organisation National Association of Nigerian Students and not National Association of Tertiary Institution Students. Assuming but not conceding the commissioner is right, isn't social justice, fairness, advocacy for rule of law, constitutionality and democracy part of the constitutional advocacy of NANS?

For the avoidance of doubt, NANS jurisdiction covers elementary schools and secondary schools, however, students in those schools are not financial members but NANS considers their welfare and agitate for same when the need arises. If Commissioner Odumosu is not pleased, he could pick up a post graduate course to become a student once again and join NANS or write to NANS Senate for a review of the jurisdiction of NANS. We advise the Commissioner to be focused on Policing Lagos and be ready to take responsibility when the public, NANS inclusive, demand for a better bargain from the Police and not only show the weight of his power when he feels like his authority is being questioned by less powerful men.

We maintain maximum respect for the Police and it's hierarchies but we remain one of the remaining voices of conscience within the Nigerian system today and we will not be blackmailed to silence. The Police will continue to enjoy our support, collaborations and solidarity as we believe in the leadership of the IGP and his effort to reposition the Police. We will continue to be outspoken on issues of national interest whether or not it falls within our direct jurisdiction or extended jurisdiction as Nigerians and Nigerian youth, with constitutional right to associate, have opinion, demand justice and accountability.

Signed:

Comrade Adedayo Sunday Asefon

The Revolutionary President of NANS "