Everytime a news piece caught my fancy, I immediately ingested it. Sometimes, and many times, I read through the comments but that must be just to have a feel of what people had to say about the subject matter. Nothing more.
However, in recent times, I have developed much more than a passing interest in the people’s comments. Now, I dwell more on these comments, probably more than the news piece itself. And the reason for this, I take for granted that it’s obvious.
The people’s comments reveal the real thoughts on the streets. Collectively, they showcase the joys, anger, frustrations, happiness, knowledge, ignorance and such other subjects that can be put into words. The internet is all about words, words and more words even if they come in pictures.
For millions of Nigerian students, primary, secondary, tertiary (undergraduates and postgraduates) and even life students (by that, I mean everyone who still sees learning as a lifelong exercise – including ‘peasants’, civil servants, government and private politicians), our major concern at the moment should not be far from issues with the tags of ASUU, strike, University, closure, students, home, earned allowances, infrastructure and all familiar ones (no one should accuse me, of course wrongly, of not mentioning the NigeriaPresident’s National Confab moves, and the aviation and armored cars? What are we running from?).
So, for good reasons, I’m currently addicted to check and recheck my news sites for new information on the above mentioned tags. And you know what? I’ve never been disappointed. At every turn, there’s almost always something new to learn about ASUU’s ongoing strike and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s many moves to drive the nation’s lecturers back to the classrooms, a friend would say, with their tails between their legs or well, forcefully.
To find out more about the status of ASUU strike, go to Google. A brief, however, is that the Federal Government has increased her offer quite marginally. The marginal factor, as can be imagined, is the igi woroko ti nda ina ru. By that, I mean the log that disturbs a well-nurtured fire.
That marginal factor (in figures, whose details can be found through Google) is there to make the Federal Government of Nigeria appear, at least to the ‘observers’, that they have tried (haba) more than enough, compromised more than necessary and shifted ground more than it’s reasonable to appease the striking lectures to return to work, instructing ‘innocent’ young Nigerians. How sympathetic to the plights of the Nigerian people could one say the FGN is? How so?
And yet, someone else would imagine the marginal factor is there to incite the students and the stakeholders in their education against ‘these’ ‘unpatriotic’, selfish striking lecturers who are just too selfish to see how well-meaning the government is. Is that not a possible motive of the government’s marginal increase in offer? To lend ill-feelings and then rage to these people to employ against ASUU members. The government would have them oblivious of the real motive behind the strike.
“You ask a gardener (ASUU members) to help mow your garden. You both agreed to the payment of the gardener a thousand naira. You signed the documents. After the service had been rendered, the gardener demanded (does he have to demand?) for his agreed pay; and then you started a drama. ‘There was no agreement, and even if there was, let’s do another one.’ Then a procession of claims, you said you don’t have money. Then, you offered to pay three hundred naira (what happened to the remaining?) After a protracted period of some backs-and-forths, you jerked it up with a hundred naira (again, what happened to the remaining?) and expect that the gardener and the observers should accept that as fair. Fair? Of course, fair! And then, you’d turn the observers against the gardener.
And who are the observers, anyway? There really are no observers; everyone is affected one way or another – may be psychological or actual.
That is a current information available on ASUU strike but going forward, methinks ASUU is rejecting the offer and insisting on what has been agreed between both parties. Does one think that’s fair? Why shift grounds after an agreement has been made and service, rendered? Fair?
Two days ago, I searched my Google page and read these bold words, “ASUU STRIKE: FG and Lecturers’ Adamant Posture”. The full piece of Osun Defender, as published on Monday, September 16, 2013, can be ingested here http://www.osundefender.org/?p=126650.
At the end of this piece, I was fascinated by the comments of people on what they consider as fair, those we can conveniently refer to as consisting of the observers, but we said there are no observers; everyone is a victim, (students, parents of students, parents of intending students, siblings of students who tend to get bored and bothered by their overstaying brothers and sisters and the unconnected observers, who are only psychologically bothered that education is perpetually suffering many boots).
My opinion about the comments? I’ll be back…
Find the comments below (MY COMMENTS IN BOLD):
- Anonymous
asuu, plz go back to d classroom for d plight of student ooo… (JUST LIKE THAT? THIS IS ONE COUNTRY WHERE WE TEND TO DECREE WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN GOING ON.)
Goody k
U ar vry stupid to mak dat coment (STUPID; WELL? BUT IT’S “COMMENT, NOT COMENT)
- Anonymous
dia fada (HMM)
- Oluwagloryy
Fuck you Asuu! God purnish them all. Stupid Asuu. Useless Asuu. Senseless Asuu (ALL THESE FOR ASUU ALONE? COMMON…). Even if you resume, can you recovered (WATCH IT) all the time of ambitious Nigeria Students you have wasted? Rubish! (HMM) You will all see the anger of Nigerian Students søon!
- Emmycool okayi
Is time Govt learn how to honr agreement, some people are saying shuld call off, Pls govt shud try and help this stituation, Am a 300l student in UAM so is time govt honr some agreement (LET’S BE CAREFUL. AT LEAST, SOME GOOD ENGLISH FOR ONCE.)
Anonymous
Asuu I beg u, let resume on time, half baked bread produce by the lecturer is serve within nigeria, and no need to improve it (IS THIS A WAY OF EXPRESSING THE BEST INTEREST FOR NIGERIA BY A SUPPOSEDLY ACTIVE-MINDED, UPWARDLY MOBILE NIGERIAN YOUTH INTERESTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS COUNTRY? ALARMING)
- Cocain (WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?)
Asuu please hve mercy on student.
- aye man
Hahhahahahahaaha. Asuu u guys are just selfish…. Trying to use us to get ur allowee baa. Nothing do una. Shebi una say govt threat is on u, una Neva see anything students wrath is already on u so better don’t even resume. (AS YOUTHS’ I’LL WANT TO TAKE FOR GRANTED THE FACT THAT WE READ AND ARE ABREAST OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND US. WE ARE ALL AFFECTED. DON’T SLEEP TOO MUCH, YOU JUMP UP AND ASK, “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHEESE?”
- Broderick
Those blaming ASUU for the protracted strike are inhuman. Why not blaming government for not implementing the agreement it enter into since 2009. is it justifiable in a democratic society for government to agree to what it can not afford? that is lack of sincerity on the part of government. Any one blaming ASUU is promoting corruption in Nigeria. if we continue blaming the righteous in Nigeria, corruption will never end.
- aduam
asuu go on,when d small moni in ur bank acct is finish u ll beg govt n students to go back to class.am not sure dis asuu of a pple ve children in public university.God Pass Dem (WE’LL SEE MORE AS WE GO ON. SO APPREHENSIVE THAT ONE IMAGINES, “WITH THIS LEVEL OF ORIENTATION, WITH THIS KIND OF THOUGHT PROCESS, WHAT REALLY WOULD ONE PERCEIVE AS HAPPENING TO THE NIGERIAN YOUTH – THE STUDENTS HOPING TO ‘QUICKLY’ GRADUATE FROM THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THEIR SORRY STATES, ALMOST DELIBERATELY IGNORED?)
- Anonymous
Plz if we wnt to comment on issues like dis letz apply our senses n dnt talk anyhw, ur fg knws dat hez nt capable of doin it y did he signed it in d 1st place. In everytin let try to keep to promise bcos is a debt. Well i dnt blame him anyway since his children ar nt here. N wot asuu is doin we wil all benefit frm it even our grand children. Like in my case my skul fee per session is 250, 000 in LASU n nthin to rely on even in d library. Letz think wise
- Dominion egbe
Inasmuch as fg has not been able 2 do sometin 2 stop d strike,it does nt make him incompetent becos all d corruption in dis country cant be dealt wit in only 4yrs. My govt has tried just dt asuu needs 2 be taught dt u cant eat ur cake nd have it. I dnt no any lecturer dt deserve dt allowance in my dept. Moreova asuu is corrupt nd unless d corruption in lecturers have been cleansed,there is no hope 4 universities. Wt use is infrastructure wen u’re not taught wit it,or ur lecturer cum 2 class once in a semester? Moreso wt biz ve state uni wit federal universities. My sch didnt like d idea of joinin dt strike but dey had 2 becos asuu vice president was 4rm delsu,nd dey promised 2 pay bursary 2 students. Moreova wt is d internally generated revenue used 4? Have dey nt frustrated d psychi of students long enough? Asuu is at fault nt fg. Re oda sectors includin garri sectors nt havin problem too
- Anonymous
Just as my dear wife would categorically say, “I have tire 4 ASUU and their strikeses”, even me am tired of dem and their problems. Fellow Nigerians, 2015 is most important now than ASUU. With me, we shall soon smile and have a fresher air 2 breathe after d polls.
Long live d Fed. Rep. of Nigeria!!!
- BEN
I can’t blame FG entirely, i must say dat u(FG) have tried. My que now is, what is agrmt? Pls fg shud do more dan it has done. FG shud provide N300b for infrastructure and N60b for dier alawe. I bet u, if fg take dis step, we will be bak to skul. Jona is my president no matter what. Ever1 have challenges bt i believe he will take a step dat will put smiles on our faces once and forever. May God touch u Jona not to listen dose ur judas anymore. God i tank u.
- Anoymous
Pls, let’s talk wisely, asuu demands is germane, but the inscerity among d fg is wat we already knw, so is not better for the asuu to call off d strike and manage wit d studnts as usuall, the elites fg hv nothng to regret, rather is stil asuu and studnt dat wil be at d recieving end! be wise @asuu
- Anonymous
Dis ASUU/FG imbroglio is getting out of
hand. Only God can intervene for dis mess 2 come 2 an end. Just tired of d country
- marytyra
Asuu u pple are very greedy.u asked for 90 billion govt gave u 100b u asked for another 90b they gave u 30b u asked for extra 400b from there another 1.3trillion now 3trillion.this stupid asuu ask ur selfish self how much is the entire budget.govt shud declare total sack of the lecturer and see if they won’t all run to classroom.anofia
- F.t
@ marytyra .U are still a small gul.u dnt neet any 1 to tell u dat all d money Asuu is demanding 4 is not up 2 only president allowee per week.if govt give each citizen of nigeria 1million naira,we will still have money in country account.naija has money but it goes to only policians acct.stupid leaders nd followers
- Anonymous
Asuu is corrupt 2 where is d money 4 post umea,hostel free,p g d,and so meny order money what is d money use 4
Please ASUU csll off the strike, bcos HALF BREAD IS BETTER THAN NONE. The moneyt that, they say they will give u please accept it so that student will go back to class room,then you can continue ur dilogue with FG.
- kill dem
una neva start to run 4 una life
- figxy
Na we student say we want gud enviroment 4 learning nd now,we say we no want again. Y can’t asuu just understand dis,d same we dat dey re fightin 4 says we re tired nd want 2 go back 2 skul so wat? Can’t dey just call off nd manage d little dat fg has given dem? Gosh! I de vex,I don tire. Tenk God der salaries ve been stopped,let’s see how long it last,4 una mind una de do ODASHI abi??????
Asuu nd federal gvnt are noise makers. God punish all of u!
U ppl ar just fooling ur self 4 supportn FG concern ths issue.
- tessy
FG signed d agreement I believe thinking thinking things would be better n easier n now that things are not they way they planned it to be ASUU should accept it the way it appears now. As we all know our president is faced with a lot of things right now, he’s being fraustrated with so many issues. Pls ASUU we know u are fighting for the interest of Nigerian students but at d same time I want u guys to understand that we are lacking as well, pls make use of what is given now. May God help us .
- Anonymous
Asuu,,,,,Na ogun go kill una one by one?
- Talk tru
Humm, naija! When gudlck was elected,we thougth he wil b messiah(goodluck),but gudluck has bcome badluck for nigerian. Ppl lets talk tru Jonathan is even confused on the issue to attend to first,everyby is just on stike and 2015 election,PDP issue. I pray dat God wil lead Him.wateva is an agreemnt lets keep to it. Naija students need sound education,we are the future of this country. Save naija future by implemntin d agreemnt.asuu leaders,pls consider the future of ur children and hlp dis situation
- optimism
oga jonny we see u out soooooooooon
- peter
Stupid asuu. We don’t need the infrastructure. Abeg call off this stike as una take survive we go still survive. God purnish the devil. Fg
- Athekameh Emmanuel
the FG has it’s fault for not honouring the previous agreement it had with ASUU. But atleast if we can be sincere to ourselves, for the past two months the FG have tried tremendously. ASUU also has to make sacrifices also if they have the interest of the students at heart. If the FG has to meet with all the demands made by ASUU some other sectors of the economy would count loses. And time wasted can hardly be gained, so ASUU should please go back to the classroom and continue its negotiating with the government.
- Pastor c.
Great NigerianStudents! It’s time 4 us to fast nd pray bcos Asuu needs a total deliverance and fg needs devine understanding 4rm above.
- angry student
ASUU WANTS TO DISTRACT THE PUBLIC FRM THE REAL REASON THEY ARE ON STRIKE…THE STUDENTS ARE NO FOOLS, ISSA FAGEA IS A NORTHENER,HE IS NATURALY AGAINST GUDLUCK…HE IS A MUSLIM, HE IS AN OPPOSITION,…HAVENT U GUYS NOTICED IT YET THAT THIS STRIKE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STUDENTS OR EDUCATION?…THINK…THEY SAID GOV IS NOT SERIOUSE,YET IMEDIATELY FG GAVE 130
BILLION,THEY STOPED NEGOCIATIONS CLAIMING FG IS NT SERIOUS…NOW NANS IS BEGINING TO EXPOSE THIER AIMS TO THE PUBLIC,THEY NOW SAY THIER LIFES ARE IN DANGER…TRYING TO DISTRACT THE PUBLIC…MY PROBLEM WITH GEJ IS THAT HE IS TOO SLOW,TOO WEAK…..ELSE BY NOW, THESE GUYS SHOULD BE BEGGING TO BE ALOWED TO TEACH
@A HUNGRY STUDENT IS AN ANGRY STUDENT! Bcus u ar hungry tht is why u got angry? u ar an essential fool tht is why u posted here in other to make others to be fools like u? get out with ur fallacy, how can u reffered nation wide strike as an opposition to ur incompetent GEJ. Let us take that Fagge i a northerner and he is an enemy to GEJ, what of the remaining chairmen of 36 state chapters of ASUU and rest of the ASUU’s national exco ? did u mean all of them ar 4rm the north? and all of them ar hausas and muslims? u sound like cow,may GOD show u the light of truth and guide u and all others ppl like u.Ameen!
- angry student
just terminate thier appointment…you are the employer….GUDLUCK PLEASE WAKE UP…….
- sancomo
asuu una b tif,1st wik f d strik u guyz told us dt moni s nt d isue. dt if 50% f d agremt s implement,d strik wil b cald off-una dn 4gt? nw fg hs 80% nw n ur alowee bcame d problm. my felow 9ja studnts who dy deciv who nw? asuu na rubish…..I hate dm to d core. my prblm b sy gudluck na mumu,hm no get mind. tnk God dr salary s stpd n me go threat d asuu wy dy my skuk. f****ck dm asuu.
- Laykan
Pls y ar u people blamin Fg……wot of d internal revenue generatd by d skul, hw ar dey spendin it?………..abeg use sense wen commentin jawe…..1guy is talkin of LAsu, shey na Fg increase ur skul fees ? Nuissance…..We great ife studnt ar only givin u Asuu dis month.. Abeg any1 who knws asuu chairman of UI shud pls warn him 2 stop sayin rubbish all around,is he d only1,his problm is 2much on d issue crazy dude
- Vexing student
Jonathan should sack all the lecturers who failed to resume back to class. Their are many qualified people out their who are interested in lecturering . Let FG wake up and cut Asuu wings, a child cannot dictate to his father for soo long. Else that child must be a bastard (Asuu). FG should discipline Asuu severely.
- Emeka
When both of them are tired They will come to an agreement…students look for something dey do
- iyke
http:bit.ly/1hTgAb5
lAkUnLeScReWs 
I must concede that asuu has definitely score a vital point against d federal guys. how? it is contradictory on fg’s part, who earlier claimed it has offered d best it could afford to asuu, to now find it within its capacity still to increase d offer. it simply means d feds are more than capable all along of conveniently granting dia seemingly outrageous demands.
About asuu itself: why has it not entered into d minds of all nigerian students to rally round asuu? why are some factions not in sympathy wt dia socalled plight? why is asuu bn criticised nd maligned at all when it seems it is fighting another man’s battle? wot trait or xter is lacking in dat group Wch has rendered it incapable of substantial if not total public appeal? and so on nd so on
…d qsts go.
This is wot I think summarily: d nobility of wot asuu is presently battling for might not b a difficult argument to profer but wot is d xter nd testimony of each entity that constitute dat body within d context of academic environment? very few of those lecturers enjoy a favourable opinion from dia disgruntled students. asuu winning dia fight against d feds is just d beginning nd in my opinion, d reform ought to av started from within d campuses nd within d academic fraternity called asuu…
we are still a long way off d mark in our national emancipation towards academic renaissance.
You’re right. The fg And her actions And utterances leave much to be desired. What do you, meanwhile, mean by reform? Starting from within the campuses?