NOA boss says the youths are being manipulated to foment trouble
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, has cautioned protesting students of the Moshood Abiola University, Lagos to desist from street demonstrations against the renaming of the institution.
Omeri made the call in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Odenyi, in Abuja on Saturday.
He said the renaming of the institution was done in good faith, adding that the gesture should rather be applauded by all Nigerians.
The President had, during his Democracy Day broadcast, renamed the University of Lagos after the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The renaming of UNILAG was greeted with protests by students of the institution who were on the streets for four days to register their displeasure.
Omeri condemned the street demonstrations against what he described as the good intention and long awaited action of government.
He said Abiola was a great icon of democracy in Nigeria, adding that nothing should be done to distort that fact.
He expressed displeasure at what he described as the manipulation of young innocent minds into fomenting trouble over an action of government.
The DG said it was disappointing that those who perpetrated such manipulation were among the loudest voices in the rightful clamour for the immortalisation of Abiola.
The NOA boss urged the youths to imbibe the right values and be ambassadors of the same in their various neighbourhoods, so as to be agents of national transformation.
“We should not advise ourselves to do the wrong things in this country, a lot of people, including the youth now, for every policy of government, even if it is well intended, have assumed a posture and position of condemning, criticising and trying to throw away even the good,” he said.
He urged the students not to be found among the bad elements, stressing that they should always weigh their choices, possibilities and interest within every circumstance and policy pronouncement of government
