The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has announced that Peter Obi, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, is no longer welcome on polytechnic campuses across Nigeria. This decision was taken after Mr. Obi allegedly failed to correct statements he made about a recent student union election at Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.
Why the Ban Was Imposed
Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, the NAPS president, addressed reporters in Abuja and explained the reasons behind the decision. According to Oghayan, Mr. Obi claimed in a widely shared message, “I watched a heartbreaking video that showed students in Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State running for their lives as they were being shot at during their student election yesterday, which left two students dead and several injured.”
Oghayan stressed that Obi’s statement was false and described it as careless. He added that Mr. Obi compared the student unrest to political turmoil, saying it reflected the behavior of national leaders who “have chosen to fight, snatch, grab and run with it.”
Students Demand Apology
The NAPS president stated, “We, as the direct custodians of student welfare, held a press conference and called on Mr. Obi to retract the statement and issue a public apology, especially to the student community of Auchi Polytechnic.”
He continued, “Yet, he remained silent. The same man who built his campaign around ‘go and verify’ failed to verify before peddling unsubstantiated claims. That is not leadership; it is manipulation.”
According to Oghayan, because Mr. Obi did not retract his statement or apologize to the students of Auchi Polytechnic and the country as a whole, he was left with no other option.
Declaration of Persona Non Grata
Using his authority as the NAPS president, Oghayan declared, “I, Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, hereby declare Mr. Peter Obi as persona non grata on all campuses of our institutions across the country, with a mandated distance of not less than 10 kilometres from any student community.”
He clarified that this action was not an act of revenge but a push for accountability. “Leadership cannot preach what it refuses to practice. Influence must not become an avenue for institutional interference,” Oghayan stated.
Additional Comments on Security
Addressing claims that the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, had barred Mr. Obi from entering the state, Oghayan clarified, “Governor Okpebholo may have spoken with bluntness, but his concern was rooted in security intelligence and recent events.”
Oghayan pointed out that after Mr. Obi’s previous visit, three lives were lost. He said, “If any high-profile visit carries a track record of civil unrest and casualties, then a call for security coordination is not just justified – it is essential.”
On Public Donations
Oghayan also acknowledged Mr. Obi’s donation of N15million to St. Philomena’s Catholic Hospital, stating that such support for health and humanitarian causes is admirable. However, he observed that Mr. Obi’s actions appear contrary to his campaign claim that “he doesn’t give shishi,” which had become associated with his political movement.
He advised, “When public donations are made to churches, hospitals, or other faith-based institutions, they must be approached with strategic discretion and in consultation with relevant security authorities. Otherwise, such institutions may become unintended targets of violence – as evidenced by the chaos that followed his recent visit.”