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FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: The All Peoples Congress government of Siaka Stevens and Joseph Saidu Momoh distinguished themselves as the "democratically elected" governments that have unleashed the fiercest levels of violence against students in Sierra Leone's history. The outgoing President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS) Alex Alex Bhonopha has warned that issues surrounding students nationwide may soon explode and become uncontrollable for the government to handle if swift actions are not taken soonest.

Mr. Bhonopha was speaking to journalists at the Njala University Campus in Bo where the annual convention of students was slated for April, 26th-28th 2008 but was banned by the Regional Police Commissioner South Desmond Buck and Local unit Commander Mannah, in what they described as directives from above for security reasons.

According to the NUSS president, the students convention was banned by the Minister of Education, Dr. Minkailu Bah, and Resident Minister South, Muusa Tarawallie, because the NUSS president has since his appointment not congratulated him, and that his office does not recognize such a body as NUS. Since his appointment, Dr. Bah has refused to recognize the student leadership from the various colleges and has thus withheld the annual government subvention of Twenty Million Leones (Le20,000,000) to students paid on a quarterly basis by the former Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) government, he said.

Mr. Bhonopha intimated the press that the decision to ban the student’s convention was politically motivated especially when they (APC) could not have their way through in winning students over for their APC candidate to lead students. This is very unfortunate and frustrating and is a recipe for instability on the various campuses. The students want a new leadership and the Government should be seen to be prepared in this direction, and not imposing somebody on them because of party interests, he added.

Moreover, Mr. Bhonopha noted that the continued silence by the Government on Sierra Leone Government Grant-in-Aid allowances to students, and the release of the list for new awardees for the 2007/2008 year is a grave concern of the students of this country, and urged the Government for its speedy release.

He concluded that his leadership has demonstrated enough restraint in suppressing students demands for government to meet its responsibilities, and also keep its hands off students union politics: "If the education minister wants to play student politics, then let him resign his seat and seek admission in the university where we will all be colleagues."

The outgoing NUSS president pledge his commitment to work for the students of this country noting that no amount of pressure from the Minister of Education or the Government as a whole will forced him into appointing another student leader. ‘I was duly elected by the students of this country and there is no way I will yield to pressure into handing over undemocratically. The other Excellencies from the various colleges and Universities are all resolved in ensuring that transition takes place in a smooth and democratic manner," he concluded.