By Wuraola Oyedokun
The Senate leadership of the National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Saturday, declared that students in tertiary institutions across the country will not be part of the proposed nationwide planned protest slated for August 1 to 10 , 2024
The student body, in a communiqué read by the NANS Senate President,  Babatunde Akinteye at the 84th National Senate Sitting held at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, noted that student would not be part of those who want to cause chaos and disrupt peaceful atmosphere of the country.
Akinteye said Nigerian students will suffer most in case the protest leads to violence because schools will be shut and this will lead to an elongation of time Nigerian students will spend in their respective schools.
The student leader said the protest lacks clear leadership and specific demands, and posed significant risk to the nation if citizens fail to embrace caution in handling social issues.
He added that Nigerians must recognize that such actions could create devastating effects on our economy and the very social fabric of our identity as Nigerians.
Akinteye said: “We don’t know the identity of those calling for the protest, our demands and aspirations can be channeled through dialogue instead of protest.
“Despite not joining the protest, yet, we are hungry, the Federal Government should look into the issue of hunger in the land, and education  should be given priority.
“While the right to protest is enshrined in our constitution and is a vital aspect of democratic expression, we must also consider the potential consequences of unchecked and faceless demonstrations.
“Reflecting on the past, the October 20 2020 incident, which was a product of the EndSARS protest, brought devastating consequences on our nation, some of the outcomes of which we have not recovered.
“As the largest and most influential student/ youth organization in Nigeria and Africa, we have conducted extensive consultations and have come to a critical decision: we will not support or participate in any protest that could lead to anarchy, particularly the planned “Days of Rage” protest.
“Therefore, we encourage all Nigerian students to be weary of engaging in violent protests to prevent some of the dreadful repercussions that could accompany such acts, as we have recently witnessed in Kenya.
“This resolution comes after robust deliberations of the feedback of our wide consultations. The leadership of NANS during its 84th National Senate sitting fully supported and ratified this decision. We believe that while the right to protest is fundamental, the potential consequences of unchecked and faceless demonstrations could be devastating, leading to violence, economic disruption, and social instability.
“While we are not oblivious to the current economic hardship in the country, it is crucial to highlight some of the efforts and achievements of the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in ameliorating the living conditions of Nigerians.
“While emphasising these achievements is not an attempt to be partisan or take sides with the current administration, we would like to clarify that the current economic challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria, but a global phenomenon.
“The current economic situation of our beloved country should not blur our recognition of some of the indelible imprints of the current administration, evident in the activities of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, among others.
“The achievements and efforts of these institutions seek to turn the tides of our nation and position it on the right path to prosperity. We would like to highlight how some of these achievements are creating the path of national progress.”
The Oyo state governor who was  represented by the Senior Special Assistants on Students Affairs,  Victor Olojede, who  urged Nigerian students to support the government in its efforts to unite and develop the country.