The National Association of Nigerian Students in Ogun State
has criticised the national leadership of the student body for
naming the senator representing Ogun-East Senatorial District,
Buruji Kashamu, the ‘Golden Man of the Year.’

Three weeks ago, the National President of NANS, Tijani
Usman, was lampooned by the Coordinator, South-West (Zone
D) of the association, Okikiola Ogunsola, for faulting the
arraignment of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, by the
Code of Conduct Bureau over allegations of false assets
declaration.

Similarly, Usman, while presenting the award to Kashamu last
week in Ogun State, had said, “We decided to honour Senator
Kashamu because we know that he is neither the richest
businessman nor politician in Nigeria, yet we constantly hear of
his philanthropic gestures to Nigerians of all shades and
colours, especially the less-privileged.

“We are fascinated by his large-heartedness even in the face of
needless distractions. We reckon that if all wealthy Nigerians are
like Senator Kashamu, the country will be a better place for us
all. That is why we decided to encourage him by giving him this
award.”

But in a statement criticising the award on Tuesday, the
Chairman of NANS in Ogun State, Dotun Opaleye, distanced
the students in the state from the position of the national
leadership.

The statement partly read, “Our attention has been drawn to an
ignominious NANS award presented to Senator Buruji
Kashamu representing Ogun-East Senatorial District by our
National President, Usman.

“This incidence is terribly disturbing to all sane minds and is
capable of drawing the anti-corruption crusade of President
Muhammadu Buhari backwards when men of questionable
character who are wanted by American authorities for drug
crimes are celebrated by the apex student body. We sincerely
ask: What is so golden about Kashamu? Is it because he
destroyed the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West?

“What has Kashamu done for Nigerian students domiciled in
Ogun State to merit such award? Even in his immediate
environment, he hasn’t been able to donate a single toilet to
schools like Olabisi Onabanjo University or Abraham
Adesanya Polytechnic, not to mention other schools in his
senatorial district like Tai Solarin University of Education.”