Nigerian Newsday

By Fayil Friday

Youths in the country have been advised not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs during the 2007 general elections.

The Senate President of the Northern Nigeria Students Association, Malam Suleiman Hussaini Maibasir who gave the advice in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Newsday recently in Abuja warned youths in the country to be wary of politicians who would like to use them for their own selfish interest.

According to him, the call had become necessary in view of the fact that youths were the bedrocks of development in any nation, hence the need for them to eschew violence and contribute positively to nation building.

Malam Suleiman also called on politicians to ensure that peace reigns during the 2007 polls and afterward.

Speaking on the activities of his association, he lamented that paucity of funds and cultism on campuses constitute a constraint on the smooth operations of the association and called on students to desist from cultism.

He expressed his preparedness to work for the unification of Nigerian students so that they would begin to speak with one voice, disclosing that plans were underway to open offices for the association in all tertiary institutions in the country.

This, he noted would provide avenues for members to make submissions and recommendations on how to move the association forward.

In a separate development, the battle line seems drawn between the authorities of the University of Abuja and cult groups existing in the school.

This is because the school authorities have identified nine different cult groups in the school and have expressed their preparedness to expose and prosecute members of such groups.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor (administration) of the school, Professor Salihu Ingawa disclosed this to newsmen in an interview in his office, recently.

The named the cult groups to include the Black Axe, Eiye Confraternity, Supreme Vikings, Marine Confraternity, Daughter of Jezebel, blue Queens, Black Brassiere, the Buccaneers and the Bobo Confraternity.