ASUU strike: Don’t force youths to revolt – Bishop Onah

By Tony Edike, Enugu

The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Professor Godfrey Onah, at the weekend, condemned the attitude of politicians and public office holders who are not concerned about the plight of youths and the generality of the masses.

Onah, who spoke during the funeral mass for Lolo Josephine Oyima Abba, mother of the Enugu State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Vita Abba at Ede-Oballa, in Nsukka Council Area of Enugu State, warned that such neglect could force the youths to revolt against the leaders.

*Undergraduates caught in endless strike

He cautioned political leaders to retrace their steps, as it would not be possible to quench the indignation of Nigerian youths who may soon run out of patience with the leaders over the poor treatment they are getting from government.

The bishop cautioned that it would be difficult to stop the youths if they were further pushed into frustration.

He threw posers to both the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on the reasons behind the over three-month-old industrial action that has paralyzed academic activities.

The bishop said from his interactions with Nigerians, the inability of both parties to end the lingering strike was unjustifiable and inexcusable.

He said, “I know that I have enough persons here and also hopefully enough instruments to carry this message to the ears of the highest echelons of power in this country.

”The common people, the students and their parents, whom I represent, do not believe the explanations the politicians and the academics are giving for the strike; we don’t believe them and we are appealing to them in God’s name to remember we will all end this way (pointing to the dead); let them end this strike immediately.

”I want to ask a question; it is a question not a statement. I am asking the leadership of the government in this country- is it really true that you don’t have enough money to improve upon the quality of education in this country or is it that you are stocking up money in preparation for 2015 in order to buy your way to power or to secure your future indefinitely through corruption?”