Nigerian Varsities Have Been Reduced to Local Entities-Prof. Osodeke
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has described the agitations by some individuals and groups claiming to be that indigenes of towns where universities are sited be made the vice chancellors of such universities as reducing the institutions to local entities.
The union, National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, in a chat with newsmen, also said universities are universal in nature and that appointments there should be devoid of ethnic and other sentiments. he made this statement in regards to some people in Ile Ife who protested against the choice of a non-indigene as the VC of Obafemi Awolowo University.
In his words “They have taken universality out of the university system in the country. Assuming without conceding the fact, does it mean an ile Ife son has not been vice chancellor in any other university? It is even more ridiculous some members of Governing Councils are appointed because of political considerations and not competence.
The president further made reference to few Vice Chancellors such as Adamu Baike who was made the Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN and how where he came from didn’t matter, Eni Njoku was VC in UNILAG, Dike was VC in UI. Is VC not about being competent? So, the VCs in all universities in the South-West must be Yoruba, those in the North must be Hausa/Fulani and those in the South-East must be Igbo? The university is universal and a Russian can be heading a University in America and vice versa he said.
Prof. Osodeke ask if the funds used in setting up these universities were sourced from their host communities only? He also blamed the government for not putting the right persons in the Governing Councils of the universities, saying “some council members lacked the knowledge of how to run the universities.”
Recall that some people took over the main gate of OAU to protest the non-recommendation of an Ife man as the next OAU VC, the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association has dissociated itself from the OAU protest.
In a statement by Chief Ifasola Onifade and Dr Oluseyi Atanda, exonerated the group stating that “While we recognise the inalienable right of whoever feels aggrieved to protest of any perceived injustice, we consider it strange that our sacred costumes, paraganglia and other items (except charms and strange objects as reported) synonymous with traditionalists were adorned by the protesters.
“After thorough checks, we discovered that the protesters were neither members of TRAWSO in our Ile-Ife branch, nor belong to our other branches around the Ile Ife community. As respected members of traditional institution, we were not involved in the running of the affairs of OAU and we were not involved in the processes that led to the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor for the University, hence, we have no justifiable reason to protest the appointment of the VC of the institution, a federal university for that matter.”
“Therefore we call on security agencies to investigate and uncover those that dressed like traditionalists and invaded OAU and prosecute those that are found wanting. Our members were not involved in the protest. The activities of those involved are self-serving and shameful.
“What worries us most is the fact that the protesters portrayed us in bad light as fetish and uncivilised and we warn against the use of our items by people that are not known to us. Those that are involved should be warned seriously as our members will not take kindly with the repeat of such show of shame which may attract stronger reaction, or even litigation from our end to protect our integrity.
“We also advise whoever wants to express displeasure through protest to take proper channel and desist from the conducts capable of destroying the integrity and honour of others.
“We believe in fairness and we oppose cutting corners. We did not participate in the protest within the Campus of OAU and we are not in anyway displeased with the management of the University regarding the running of the Institution.”
