President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that the late Students’ Union Leader, who was behind the ‘Ali Must Go’ rally in 1978, Comrade Segun Okeowo, be imortalised.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Matters, Comrade Jude Imagwe, disclosed the President’s directive during a Tribute Night organised by his office for him, in Abuja.
The former President of the National Union of Nigeria Students (NUNS), Segun Okeowo, 73, who was the arrowhead of ‘Ali Must Go’ protests, one of the most violent students’ agitation in the country in the late 70s against the General Olusegun Obasanjo-led military government died at about 6.30 a.m. January 27, at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun state.
Imagwe said Segun Okeowo was to be imortalised “because of his doggedness and uncompromised stand on any public issue embarked upon by the union during his leadership, even at a time when the country was under military rule.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Com. Sam Amadi, while describing him as “a true nationalist” decried the politicisation of the present students union, saying that it would deny them of recognition.
He said: “Civil Society Organisations of which students union is part of cannot afford to be patrician. It makes their voice to be reckoned with.
“If you compromised and align with the government, the society will see you as mouth piece of government, and if you align with the opposition whenever you want to intervene in a social crisis, you will be treated as opposition and your idea will be thrown out no matter how beautiful it is.
“There is need for us to remain in the struggle; therefore, we need to maintain neutrality.”
Son of the late unionist, Mr. Kolade Segun-Okeowo, expressed happiness over the encomiums being showered on his father, saying at he lived a good life, just as he urged students’ union leaders to stand firm in the face of challenges.
