Outcry on social media as SUG President appoints 30 aides
Nigerians are expressing their opinions on social media following the appointment of more than 30 aides by Comrade Abasifreke Benson, the President of the Students’ Union at Akwa Ibom State University.
In a signed letter, the student leader justified the appointments of special assistants, citing the need for his administration to operate effectively and efficiently.
The appointed positions include the Chief of Staff, Chief Press Secretary, Chief Security Officer, and 8 Media and Publicity Special Assistants, among others.
One prominent human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, took to his Facebook page to criticize the student leader’s actions.
He described the appointments as a destructive political culture that has infiltrated Nigerian higher institutions.
He wrote, “His Excellency, the President, and Commander-in-Chief of the Students’ Union Government, Akwa Ibom State University, Comrade Abasifreke Benson, has important information for the general public. Back when I served as President of the Students’ Representatives Council (SRC), Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, I managed without a single aide.
“What will the President of the Union be doing, then, with this long list of ‘appointees and aides’? His Excellency forgot to appoint a Senior Special Adviser and a Special Adviser on Legal Matters.
“There is a terrible political culture that has evolved in Akwa Ibom State; the culture of viewing ‘political appointments’ and proximity to power as the be-all and end-all of life. This destructive political culture has infected higher institutions and is deeply concerning.”
On Twitter, a user identified as @BulusPaul9 simply wrote, “Nigerians’ mentality,” while another user with the handle @nduoyo_adams added, “Power drunk.”
Commenting on the post, a Facebook user, Charles Awuzie, wrote, “This is precisely my point. Our problem is BOTTOM TO TOP… not top to bottom. Give a little boy Student Union President the position, and he appoints a dozen special advisers, etc., and embezzles SUG funds.”
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
