SEGUN AYINDE, Abeokuta
Aviary Association Worldwide, Gateway Aviary, Ogun State chapter, has charged the National Association of Nigerian Students, to shun violence in their bid to protest the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
NANS had embarked on a protest blocking access to public roads and ports in order to prevail on the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU to end its seven-month-old strike.
But speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday at the N.U.J, Secretariat, Iwe Irohin, Abeokuta, President of Gateway Aviary, Mr. Abiodun Abiodun, called on NANS to ensure that their protest does not escalate into violent.
Abiodun, who spoke on the theme: “End Racism; Build Peace” to mark 2022 International Day Of Peace, said peace is the only solution to resolving FG-ASUU faceoff, charging the students to be mindful of their utterances and shun any act that might aggravate the matter.
He advised FG and ASUU to resolve the issue amicably and asked the leadership of NANS to look for a peaceful way to settle the face off rather than resorting to protests that might lead to violence.
“In as much as we feel marginalised as students, I will just implore the students that while they challenge the government to asked for their right in the ASUU strike, they should not to be violent in their activities,” he said.
The Aviary president, however, tasked the leadership of NANS to do everything possible to conduct their follow students in a manner that they would eschew violence in any protest aimed at ending the strike.
He also charged parents and other stakeholders in the education sector of the country to rise and play their roles in ending the feud to enable the students to return to school on time.
Abiodun added that his association, which is in conjunction with the United Nations, is saddled with the responsibility of resolving conflict without violence, and preaching against tribalism and racism as well as building trust among people, among others.