The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Jonathan administration for showing insensitivity to the plight on students by throwing political jamborees even as students groaned at home as the ASUU strike continues to linger.
In a statement released by the interim National Publicity Secretary of the opposition party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Federal Government did not place education as one of its top priorities, and preferred politicking to national development.
The party said that two mega, money-guzzling dinners had been thrown by the Jonathan administration in Abuja since the strike started and these were perhaps the best example of the aphorism ‘Nero fiddling while Rome burns’.
The party said it was also in the midst of the strike that the First Lady organised the so-called Peace Rally that brought hundreds of unsuspecting women to Abuja in what later turned out to be a march of shame.
The Abuja gathering which featured pop star Iyanya, APC stated, must have guzzled tens of millions of naira.
‘’Yet, some ministers had the temerity to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians by saying the government will shut down if it meets ASUU’s demand. What an affront!
“They did not say Nigeria will shut down when the country paid out N3 trillion in non-existent fuel subsidies; they did not say Nigeria will shut down over the N1 trillion spent in the last eight years on less than 500 people; they did not say Nigeria will shut down due to FG’s monumental profligacy, which includes spending billions of naira to pamper ex-militants, some of whom are now so overfed that they are threatening the country’s very existence!
‘’It is particularly shocking that the government has carried on as if everything is normal, without bothering about the fate of the students who have been marooned at home since the strike started.
“Perhaps this is because the children and wards of those at the helm of affairs are luxuriating in schools abroad, or because they are too comfortable to worry about their less-fortunate compatriots,’’ it said.
APC drew attention to the fact that the strike worsened merely two days after the President instructed his cabinet to do everything possible within their power to end the strike.
”In fact, the negotiations between ASUU and the Federal Government were called off two days after the President issued his directive. So much for credibility!’’ the party said.