By Ifeoma Ejiofor
A leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives hopeful for Ihiala federal constituency in Anambra, Barr Johnmary Akachukwu Maduakolam has expressed worry over the ongoing strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and others.
Barr Maduakolam who was speaking with journalists in Nnewi noted that strikes and other interruptions in the academic calendar of institutions of higher learning are evil wind that would not blow any good to the nation.
The House of Representatives aspirant said as a matter of fact that the development has become a serious embarrassment to Nigeria.
“The reality on ground now is that affluent parents and guardians are taking their children out of the country to pursue their higher education but what happens to the students whose parents can not afford such luxury.
“The issues that normally degenerate to industrial actions in the universities and other high institutions should be addressed once and for all. Constant interruptions in teaching and learning is not good for the system.
“We should also be conscious of the fact that when a man becomes idle, he becomes a workshop for the devil.
“When students who are supposed to be in school are pushed into the street because of the failure of government to pay the necessary attention to the education sector, then danger is looming.” he said.
Barr Maduakolam said the strike was putting pressure on families and youths themselves that some of them were now going into crime and criminality especially where there are no alternative positive activities they could engage themselves in.
The United Kingdom (UK) trained House of Reps hopeful who has been supportive of youths by offering scholarship to the indigents in Ihiala Local Goverment Area of Anambra State through his JAMIE foundation said that the security implications of allowing youths who are supposed to be in school roam the streets is better imagined than real.
He appealed to all the stakesholders in the educational sector to work together so as to give the needed equilibrium to the sector.