By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State students, under the aegis of National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun Joint Campus Committee have warned the Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) against creating dissatisfaction in the state

The students’ bodies said that CUPP’s recent unguarded statement and unwarranted attacks against the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun over the urban regeneration project, going on at Ibara GRA, Abeokuta, was condemnable, saying that the CUPP’s action was capable of disrupting the peace and the harmonious relationship between the governor and workers in the state.

They disclosed this in a statement signed by Comrade Kehinde Thomas, the NAOSS, National President and Gabriel Francis, NANS, Ogun JCC Chairman and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogunnaike State capital.

CUPP was said to have among other things in its recent statements alleged Governor Abiodun of dehumanising civil servants and striping them off of their rights to land and housing that were originally allocated to them during the administration of the first civilian governor of the State, late Bisi Onabanjo.

The students said that it was unfortunate that CUPP decided to tell barefaced lies and whip up unnecessary sentiment when the government has several times explained while it embarked on the urban regeneration projects during when the houses were demolished.

The statement partly reads, “Ogun CUPP chairman should know that the workers’ houses demolished in the GRA were not permanently allocated to civil servants – all the houses belong to the state government.

“CUPP should also know that civil servants were adequately carried along by the state government when the idea of rebuilding the GRAs was conceived.

“In fact, extensive vacation notices were issued to the affected workers, while the then Head of Service held a series of meetings with workers to explain the rationale behind the government’s decision.

“One would wonder why CUPP is crying more than the bereaved on the matter? Even, an elder statesman in the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and traditional rulers endorsed the project.

“No affected worker carried placards to protest the noble idea by the Governor Abiodun-led administration. Rather, the workers threw their weight behind the project, especially with the availability of low cost houses constructed by the state government across the state”.

The statement disclosed further that NANS Ogun and NAOSS National frowns at and condemns the activities of the CUPP in the state and view it as nothing but a distraction to the governor.

The students warned the CUPP leadership and members of the group to desist from brewing disaffection against the governor and eschew statements capable of tampering with the peace and harmony being enjoyed in the state.

While urging the residents of the state to disregard the CUPP uninformed statement, the student groups urged Governor Dapo Abiodun not to lose grip on the steering wheel of progress and continue on the steady path of socio-eco comic development of Ogun State.