ASUU CRITICIZES JONATHAN SAYS "MEDIA CHAT WAS EMPTY"

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday criticised President Goodluck Jonathan media chat on the country’s 53rd Independence Day celebration, describing it as empty and less comforting.

The union said President Jonathan’s media chat has succeeded in further showing Nigerians the clueless nature of the leadership to solving pressing problems of insecurity, corruption and the comatose education sector.

ASUU in a release signed by the Chairman of the University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, titled: “Nigeria at 53: No message of hope for Nigerians Yet,” said the hope that Nigerians had to listen to practical solutions to the problems in the country was dashed when they listened to the “empty” interview which offered no solutions.

While picking holes in the President Jonathan’s chat, ASUU bemoaned the quality of the nation’s leadership and its failure to provide solution to problems affecting the masses, especially the poor.

The union asked Nigerians to prevail upon “this government to consider the poor and the children of the poor by giving the needed and necessary attention to public education in Nigeria.”

ASUU said the presidential team needs to work on the president to bring messages of hope and not dampen the morale of the already dejected Nigerians.

He said: “Nigerians were all disappointed at President Jonathan’s media chat on the eve on the 53rd independence anniversary of the country. Many Nigerians expected their President to come out with practical solutions and cogent policy statements on urgent, burning national issues were greatly disappointed at the drab media chat. The President cannot be quoted on any of the issues raised during the interview. Most of his answers were not only evasive but lame. Critical issues, such as Boko Haram insurgency, lingering ASUU strike were all treated with mere disdain by the President. The closure of Nigerian universities for upwards of three months received a lackadaisical treatment from Mr. President.

 “Nigerians were at sea when their President and Commander- in- Chief was asked questions on one Boko Haram leader, and the President could only replied that “I don’t know him”. Mr. President, do you need to sit down in town hall meetings before you know the terrorists inflicting lots of pains and agonies on your people daily? Did Obama need to know Osama bin Laden before he took decisive action to end his reign of terror?”

The Nation newspaper