Split Emotions Erupt Among Nigerian Students As NANS President, Bamidele Is Impeached

There have been split of emotions, reactions and uproar on social media as the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) has impeached the NANS National President, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan and sworn in Comrade Chidi Ilogede, who hitherto was the Vice President National Affairs as President of NANS with immediate effect.

AMILOADED gathered that the NANS Senate Impeached the President during the virtual Senate meeting held on Tuesday.

However, in a statement on Tuesday jointly signed by the NANS Senate President, Comrade Gambo Abu Mohammed and the Senate Clerk, M. Ibrah stated that NANS President was impeached for alleged financial impropriety and criminal diversion of students COVID-19 Palliatives and many others.

According this the statement, “The Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Students has impeached the President of NANS, Mr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan and sworn in Comrade Chidi Ilogede, who hitherto was the Vice President National Affairs as President of NANS with immediate effect.

“A Committee set up by the NANS Senate to investigate allegations of misappropriation and diversion of students Covid-19 Palliatives indicted the President for financial impropriety, criminally diverting students Covid-19 palliatives, fraudulently concealing information relevant to help the growth of the organization and the development of the country and having abused his office by doing arbitrary and unlawful acts which are prejudicial to the rights of other members of the NANS all in violation of the Code of Conduct of an official of NANS as enshrined in Schedule 3 of the Constitution and Charter of Demand of NANS;

“The former NANS President was also indicted for having not been remorseful despite being exposed that he had received the money as alleged but rather resorted to threatening the lives of members of the Committee in an attempt to deter and intimidate them from carrying out their Constitutionally mandated function and also threatened the life of the Senate President Mr. Gambo Abu Mohammed;

“This Committee recommended to Senate that in exercise of the Senate powers and functions encapsulated and vividly provided in Article 13 (a) of the Constitution and Charter of Demand of NANS to remove the President, Mr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan from office and expel him from the Organization with immediate effect. His actions, the Committee said had done irreparable damage to the NANS and brought it to disrepute thereby making NANS a laughing stock among reasonable persons in the society. It also said the action was to serve as a deterrent to other officials of NANS present and in the future to know that they cannot take the organization and its membership for a ride.

“The former NANS President had received huge sums of money from some government agencies including the NNPC for students Covid-19 Palliatives and diverted the money while denying he did not receive any money at all. A vast majority of the students were shocked when evidence was uncovered by the Investigation Committee proving that he received the money as alleged.

“Therefore in exercise of the powers of the Senate as contained in Article 13 of the Constitution and Charter of Demands and the overwhelming votes of the Senators and the earlier Vote of No Confidence passed by the National Executive Committee,

“1.Mr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan hereby stands impeached and Comrade Chidi Ilogede is hereby sworn in as the President of NANS.

“2. All NANS property and funds in the former President’s possession are to be fully recovered.

“3.National Convention of NANS to hold immediately in 30 days precisely between November 12th -November 15th 2020 in Abuja.

All organs of NANS are hereby directed to comply with immediate effect. All security and government Agencies to be adequately notified.”

Meanwhile, the impeachment of the NANS President has generated to a lot of reactions.

While some student leaders commended the NANS Senate for the impeachment, other condemned the act.

In a chat with our correspondent, the Coordinator of NANS Southwest, Comrade Olawale Samuel commended the Senate for impeaching the President, saying that the NANS President is not lord over the associated.

Also, in a statement signed by the Direct of Special Duties of NANS Zone B, Comrade Olisa Nwuruku felicitated with the new sworn in NANS President.

According to his statement, ” The Community and Leadership of NANS, Ebonyi State, and the Directorate of Special Duties, NANS Zone B, headed by Comrade Olisa Nwuruku Alfred, heartily felicitate with the new President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comr.
Ilogebe Chidi.

“Comr. Chidi Ilogebe, was sworn in as the substantive acting NANS President, after a vote of no confidence was passed against the immediate past and expired President, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan, by the NANS Senate, led by Senator Gambo Mohammed.

“We welcome this bold step, and rejuvenation of our Union. One of those rare resolutions that have saved our Association from the grips of ill luck.
We assure Comr. Chidi Ilogebe of our utter solidarity and synergy, as he sets to steer the wheel of our noble Association to an enviable height not forgetting the yawnings and plights of the oppressed and armless Nigerian Students. Again, congratulations, and welcome on board, Leader!”

In a telephone chat with the NANS National PRO, Comrade Azeez Adeyemi said the NANS National leadership will soon react to the impeachment of the NANS president.

Meanwhile, effort to speak with the NANS National President prove abortive as he didn’t attend to call of our correspondent.

However, in a viral statement, the NANS National secretariat led by Bamidele has condemned the impeachment.

According to the statement, “Our attention has been drawn to an ongoing zoom meeting convened by the immediate past Senate President, Comr. Gambo Abubakar Mohammed where he claimed to have suspended/impeached the NANS President. This is a joke taken too far. May we state as follows;

“1. That Comr. Gambo Abubakar Mohammed’s last constitutional assignment was the pre-convention held at IMT Enugu, in March, 2020.

“2. That the constitution of NANS does not allow electronic convergence/meeting for the organization let alone taking such a critical decisions.

“3. The constitution of NANS also allows for two third majority for such decisions to be taken, not the less than fifteen unknown persons put together by the erstwhile Senate President.

“4. Comr. Gambo Abubakar Mohammed is known for his quest for money and commercialization of struggle and has again been bought over by enemies of Nigerian students.

“It is obvious that the sponsors of this evil mechanization are interested in the division of the organization and are completely out to destroy the good name the organization has gotten under the leadership of Comr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan.

“We urge Nigerian students and the general public to disregard Comr. Gambo Abubakar Mohammed and his co-travelers on this part of perdition as they have become they poster men of destabilization for our beloved organization.”

See some screenshots below: