The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Sunday said Nigeria needs true national leaders and followers for good governance and pursue ultimate happiness of the generality of Nigerians.
ASUU stated this in a statement by chairman, University of Ibadan, Professor Ayoola Akinwole, on the state of the nation and the 62nd national independence celebration.
Prof. Akinwole stated that Nigeria has been piloted by internal colonisers who promote domination of their people, saying, the way and manner in which the ruling class has piloted the affairs of the country since 1960 is nothing but internal colonialism and domination.
He said, “The Nigerian ruling class represents the worst form of evil of internal colonialism unknown anywhere in the modern world. They mobilised the resources of the country and cart same away to foreign land, leaving their country and citizens in penury and deprivation.”
Prof. Akinwole added: “If government is to make life bearable for the governed, the very many of people who witnessed colonial rule regret the current state of Nigeria. The way and manner in which the ruling class piloted the affairs of the country since 1960 is nothing but internal colonialism and domination.
“A cross-section of Nigerians will no doubt, agree that there are no grounds for celebration and fanfare, due to the deplorable state of affairs in the country. It is a shame for successive government to be unable to solve electricity problem and make education in Nigeria the driver of her development.”
ASUU added: “The treatment meted out to Nigerians, most especially the intelligentsia, by the government and ruling class, most especially in the current administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari is worse off. It also reflects the oppressive tendencies of some university administration on workers’ unions.
“The payment of 30, 000 is worse than slavery. The non-payment of salaries for over seven months is inhuman treatment, aimed at depriving them of their humanity and turning them into modern slaves. Nowhere is the decadence of an independent Nigeria more abysmal than in the education system.”