By Anya C. Anya

 

The All Progressive Congress APC Abia State has decried the high-handedness and insensitivity to the plight of Abians as exhibited by the sudden imposition of #15,000 on ABSU students in the name of Pandemic Prevention Fee even though Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has scrapped the fee.

 

The All Progressive Congress APC through a press release made available to AFNEWS dated 6th November 2020 signed by Comrade Benedict C. Godson,  Abia State APC Publicity Secretary with the title “Pandemic Prevention Fee”, most ludicrous thing Abia Govt has done:…N30,000 Student Support Fund must not be a Greek Gift cautioned the government of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu against laughing at Abians who are still passing through hardship occasioned by the Advent of COVID 19 in Nigeria.

 

As stated in the press release , Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it received with deep regret and shock ” the most absurd academic decision and another exhibition of administrative rascality and reckless from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Abia State Government against our students at the Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).”

 

“It’s so dreadful and horrifying that while other States governments led by men who have blood flowing in their veins are busy cutting tuition fees and subsidizing other charges for students, Abia is busy planning and executing disheartening extortionist policies against her own by imposing a compulsory N15,000 fee they tagged “Pandemic Prevention Fee.”

 

“Our simple question to the management of ABSU and their PDP masters in Abia Government House is very simple and short. It goes this way: Are you on this earth with all of us? We sincerely believe that if they didn’t travel to any other inhabitable planets waiting for us to survive before they return because if they were here, they should be wiser.”

 

“Governor Ikpeazu’s emergency Thursday midnight Executive Tweet in defense of his approved “Pandemic Prevention Fee” was even more embarrassing than the anti student, anti parents, anti family and anti education fee he and his appointees in ABSU tried to throw on parents.It’s mind-boggling that the Governor on Wednesday had a Town Hall Meeting with ABSU management students where he consciously without being under any form of duress, approved that thousands of students in ABSU should pay N15,000 Pandemic Prevention Fee.”

 

“Governor Ikpeazu even said himself that in that Town Hall Meeting, a fee of N25,000 per student was proposed as medical fee but slashed to N15,000 (Pandemic Prevention Fee) to help ABSU put in place adequate measures to protect the soon to resume students from COVID-19.Dr. Ikpeazu who was making an image redeeming Tweet on Thursday night, said that after a deep review of the agreement & its likely effect on all the students & their parents, he directed the immediate scrapping of the “pandemic prevention fee” by school management, while the government will now go ahead to pay N30,000 to each Abia student in the institution as further support to them, their parents.”

 

“Our dear Governor and ABSU Management must have thought that all Abians are daft and stupid. Meeting was had with ABSU students and Management on Wednesday, 4th November 2020. The letter instructing students of ABSU to pay these N15,000 Pandemic Prevention Fee was dated and signed on the 21st of October, 2020. What a miraculous backdating of event.”

 

“The APC also wishes to tell Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and ABSU management that the proposed N30,000 support fund meant for the students must not be tantamount to any form of school fee or dubious fee increment, as we’re aware that they’ll try to make parents indirectly pay for the proposed support fund which may end up becoming a Greek Gift.Abians are watching, Nigerians are taking note, the whole world is observing how this current administration of the PDP in Abia State are constantly showcasing their administrative emptiness and lack of empathy for the people of our dear state.”

 

“One thing is clear about those running Abia State Government and that is the fact that they enjoy watching people suffer. But just like the Bible said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Abians should hold these words until 2023 when we all shall show them the exit door.” He concluded.