Parents of abandoned students in US solicit FG’s help

Parents of 43 Niger Delta students studying under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (special programme) in the United States have passionately appealed to the Federal Government to save the education of their children.

The parents in a joint statement on Thursday signed by Mr. Kingsley Feboke, said the children were enrolled in universities in America through the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Special Scholarship for Crisis Impacted Communities in the region.

They said the scholarship scheme was a window created by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for youths from crisis impacted to be captured under the Amnesty programme, adding that the students were sent to the United States by the PAP.

They raised the alarm that their children had been abandoned in the United States and were being treated as prisoners of war.

They alleged that the Amnesty office failure to pay the tuition, accommodation,  books and allowances of the students had almost resulted in throwing the children to the streets.

The parents urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save their children from terrible devastation and looming danger which might destroy the career of the children and the essence of the amnesty programme.

They said, “We respectfully and passionately solicit that you (President Muhammadu Buhari) save our children from the terrible devastation and looming danger which may eventually destroy our dear children and disrupt the essence of the Amnesty Programme, which we believe is serving the best interest of Nigeria, the African continent and the world at large.

“Help us to save them from this feeling of abandonment, hunger, depression and anxiety which will negatively affect their well-being and may in future affect our dear nation, as they and all other youths are the hope and leaders of tomorrow.

“We strongly believe in the ability of this Administration to put smile on the faces of our children who are citizens of this great nation.”

They solicited the continued support and willingness of the relevant authorities to resolve the issue of the payment of their children’s outstanding fees.