Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan
National Amir (President) of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Mr Muhammad Jameel Muhammad, has condemned what he described as double standard role played by the Federal Government in handling the recent crises and aftermath of the crises in Numan, Adamawa State.
He gave the condemnation in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 104th Islamic Vocation Course (IVC) of B zone of MSSN held at IVC Permanent Camp, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Muhammad who stated that it was unfortunate that many Nigerians lost their lives during the two incidents in Numan, maintained that the way the Federal Government handled the crises and the aftermath was uncalled for.
He said, "First, the way and manner in which the Federal Government is handling the crises and its aftermath in Numan, Adamawa State, is, to say the least, a double standard. Here is a place in which lives of Nigerians were gruesomely lost at two unfortunate incidents.
"But while the first set of victims were never recognised and may possibly may never be at all, the second set of victims attracted the visit of the whole Vice President of the country and series of aides thereafter.
"This has painted a picture that some animals are more equal than others as contained in George Orwell's fable, The Animal Farm.
"The danger here is that Nigerians are being pitched against fellow Nigerians on account of being favoured/disfavoured by the same government voted for and tasked with taking care of both."
The MSSN boss also decried the way and manner issues ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration and dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels are handled coupled with insensitivity with which the education sector in the country, lamenting that it is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to the body.
"As students, our constituency resides within the educational sector. We are always worried that our governments at both state and federal levels do not resolve contending issues amicably with relevant stakeholders.
"Ranging from recurrent strikes by academic or non-academic staff of higher institutions to sudden radical frustration/dismissal of teachers at the secondary and primary levels, the insensitivity with which the education sector in our country is handled is alarming, worrisome and demoralizing to us as students.
"In all such cases, the schools that are the only symbol of governmental presence in most localities become abandoned by teachers, making us, students, more vulnerable before the myriad of forces of evil that have pervaded the land.
"We therefore call on all governments to handle the educational sector with the delicacy and seriousness it deserves", he stated.
