- Candidate, University, Community Leaders Prefer
- Candidate, Embattled VC, Angela Miri, Working To Annoint
- Pro-Chancellor Did Not Ask For N300m From Any Candidate – Associate
- Most Of Them Have The Mindset Of Looting The Varsity’s Meagre Resources- Prof Na’iya
By Samson Yaki (Managing Editor)
For the first time in the history of Vice Chancellorship race in Nigerian Universities, about 80 Professors applied for the Vice Chancellor’s stool of a Federal University.
The record breaking applications that followed advertisement of the Vacancy of the Vice Chancellor stool, no doubt, have made Federal University Lokoja (FUL), the first University in the country that has such high number of Professors vying for the position of a Vice Chancellor.
The University’s Governing Council and Selection Board have since embarked on the screening and eventual shortlisting of those that have actually met the criteria outlined in the advert, the outcome of which will be their invitation for an expected marathon interview of the candidates with the hope of ushering in the successor of Professor Angela Miri Freeman, whose tenure expires by February, 2021.
Education Monitor gathered that out of the total of 80 Candidates that have applied for the position, only Seven are from the University Community. They include – The Institution’s former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Osagbemi Makanjuola, who is rumoured to be Professor Angela’s real annointed candidate.
Others are Professor Eric Sunday Adewumi, Professor Patrick Audu, Professor Rotimi Ajayi, Professor Hadi Suberu, Professor Gbenga Ibileye, Professor Omolehin and Professor Atawodi.
Among the internal Candidates there are those with questionable and incoherent degrees who by all academic standard, are not supposed to be Professors in any serious and ethical University. Others, if the Council and the selection Board are committed to doing a thorough job in getting the best candidate for the University, they will discover those with credibility issues, especially in Institutions where they served before joining FUL.
Among the remaining 73 Applicants who are outsiders and from different Universities are those with both the good, the bad and ugly records, which behoves on the Selection Board to do a thorough screening of all of them to get the best and blameless among them, for the purpose of shortlisting and eventual interview.
As a culture of many sit tight tendencies of most administrators in Nigeria and Africa in general, who are known for perpetuating their dominance of a system after them, it was not surprising when Education Monitor learnt that the outgoing Vice Chancellor has been scheming for her anointed candidate, who she will be more comfortable with, especially following series of allegations of sharp practices and and lack of observance of due process in running affairs of the University.
No doubt, the outgoing Vice Chancellor will need a successor who will cover her alleged atrocities after she had left; especially following federal government’s recent appointment of visitation Panels to investigate activities of former Vice Chancellors.
In recent times, the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Angela Miri, had been enmeshed in various allegations of scandals of corrupt practices ranging from inflation of contracts, appointing unqualified persons to certain senior positions.
Meanwhile, the University and Community have been speaking in one accord that anyone worthy to ascend the seat of the Vice Chancellor of the University must be a man of high reputation that must come with clean hands, who must not be found wanting in character, who will take the university to its desired greatness.
Different community leaders told Education Monitor in separate interviews that the University has passed through thick and thin to hold its breath of survival in the hands of the outgoing administration, an unfortunate development that they are not ready to fold their hands to watch it slip into the hands of another high-handed and corrupt administrator again.
One of the elders who does not want his name in print said “We shall not condone anyone with questionable character to pilot the affairs of the university again”
Following the desperation of one of the candidates who claims to have the backing of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahya Bello allegedly went to lobby with the Pro-Chancellor, Senator Chris Adighieje, to tell him that he is the governor’s candidate and that he was sent by the governor to come and introduce himself to him.
However, Education Monitor learnt that the disciplined and principled Pro-Chancellor allegedly requested the candidate to drop N300m, if he really wanted his support.
But, this allegation had since been rebutted by the Pro-Chancellor through someone who refused to identify himself, but claimed to be his Associate.
The so called Associate of the Pro-Chancellor described the allegation as mere attempt by desperate candidates to blackmail and discredit the Council Chairman and to cause the innocent public to cast doubt on the credibility of the entire process.
He said the allegation which is also meant to distract him from his resolve to follow due process, will not fly, because the Chairman is no doubt and generally known as a transparent, honest and credible leader.
Commenting on the race, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Professor Na’Iya Sada expressed shock over the number of people that applied for the Vice Chancellor’s stool.
He said, “The impression these desperate Professors have given to the world is that there is enough money to steal in the University”
Professor Sada opined that he believed that majority of those that applied for the position are only hoping to get the office to loot its meagre resources. They are not there to give academic leadership in the University”, he stressed