The National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to seek help outside his administration if he is overwhelmed by the economic challenges facing the country.
Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, the Clerk of the Senate at NANS headquarters, made this statement over the weekend in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
The student association emphasized that if the president is unable to resolve the nation’s economic hardships, particularly the growing hunger crisis, the administration should not hesitate to seek assistance from opposition party members.
Odunayo expressed concern over the critical state of the nation, stressing that Nigeria urgently requires immediate and effective solutions from the Tinubu-led administration.
He noted that students across the country have been seriously affected by the hardship, pointing out that Nigerians, especially the students, are tired of receiving “insufficient food items” being distributed as palliatives by the administration.
Odunayo urged the president not to limit his searches for answers to Nigeria’s challenges to his cabinet members or members of his party, emphasizing that “nothing is stopping Mr President from consulting the egg heads in the opposition parties for solutions to the harsh and suffocating economic situation in Nigeria”.
He said, “The economic situation is becoming precarious day by day and it seems the president and his team lack the solutions to the economic challenges confronting the nation and pressing down on the people. As a leader and president who wants the country to move forward and surmount the current situation, he should not hesitate or be mortified to seek help from his government and his party.
“As a national body of students in the country, we believe there are intelligent and economic gurus who are members of the opposition parties. The president can consult covertly or woo overtly and tap from their fountain of knowledge.
“To say the truth, Nigerians are hungry and angry. Students are not also impervious to the tempest of hardship blowing across the nation. Therefore, we urge Mr President not to only think out of the box, but consult and woo anyone with a magic box, irrespective of his or her political leaning, to save the country from economic depression.
“If all hands must be on the deck to move Nigeria forward, President Tinubu must find capable hands beyond party affiliation and engage them for the benefit, development, growth and economic prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians.”