NANS Threatens Showdown With Ogun Politicians Instigating 'Unknown Students' Against Arrested Ex-Chairman

ABEOKUTA - The South West leadership of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) has vowed to disgrace politicians in Ogun state sponsoring some group of students to incriminate the ex-NANS Chairman in the state, Olawale Balogun who was arrested by the police on Saturday.

The Encounter News reports that Balogun popularly known as Movement was arrested on Saturday on the suspicion that he was part of the hoodlums and political thugs who disrupted the congress of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Ake area of the state.

The Zone D Deputy Coordinator of NANS, Akinwunmi Akeem while reacting to a statement credited to one Oladimeji Uthman that Movement's arrest was political, described the statement as ill-conceived and politically motivated.

Akinwunmi otherwise known as Versatile in a press statement on Wednesday said Uthman is an impostor who lacks authority to speak on behalf of the association.

He explained that, the impostor and his associates are coming out in the media to satisfy their selfish gain. 

He warned Uthman to desist from causing confusion in the media, as the Southwest leadership of NANS are concerned in getting the arrested ex-students leader out of detention safely and peacefully.

"However, to address the sensible matter, we are aware of the arrest of a former NANS Chairman of Ogun State, Comrade Olawale Balogun AKA Movement on Saturday 16th of October 2021. And since the news of the arrest broke on the internet, we had since swung into action for fact finding mission towards getting the case settled.

"It should be noted that a delegation from the South West leadership was sent to check on our comrade at the SWAT station at Magbon, Abeokuta yesterday (Tuesday) and today Wednesday 20th of October, 2021. Having met with our comrade and heard his statement about the occurrence, we have proceeded to meet with relevant authorities for further consultation having in mind the image, interest as well as the rights of our Comrade and the noble association in mind. 

"Therefore, the news of a statement purportedly written by this impostor met us as a surprise. It should be noted by the public that the impostor and his cronies are coming out in the media only for their selfish gains as we have heard that there are likelihood that they are being sponsored by some politicians to make the issue of the arrest more political than necessary. 

"We want to warn the impostor and his cronies to stay clear of causing confusion in the media as they have missed out on this. Our interest is how to get Comrade Olawale Balogun (Movement) out of detention safely and peacefully and we shall not allow any impostors to use the case of our comrade to make cash out from politicians.

"We, therefore, disassociate ourselves from the ill-conceived threats, baseless allegations, and unreasonable demands from the illegal group.

"We emphatically state that the Nigeria Police Force has been a worthy ally of the Nigerian Students across South West and beyond. Consequently, we believe in the objective investigatory disposition of the Police and we're therefore convinced that the innocent shall not be unjustly punished.

"This should also serve as a note of warning to all politicians who are sponsoring these impostors that we shall not hesitate to humiliate them should they continue to influence and politicize the matter affecting the dignity of our Comrade in detention."