PHOTO: Prof Iwe, MOUAU VC
By: Mandy Park
A group, Abia Democratic Alliance ( ADA) is demanding transparency and integrity in the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor for Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUAU).
ADA is urging the authorities to ensure a fair and merit-based selection process, citing the importance of academic excellence and institutional credibility .
The call comes as the university prepares to appoint a new VC, following the tenure of Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, who has been leading the institution.
Specifically, they have called on the Council Chairman, Comrade Fidelis Edeh to ensure that all the candidates who applied for the position are availed a level playing field for the emergence of only the best as the new vice-chancellor.
The group, Abia in a statement in Umuahia, threatened to go to court to stop the appointment if the process was compromised.
In the statement signed by the Chairman, Nze Theophilus Nkire and the secretary, Mazi Kanu Okoroafor, the group said Abia people will accept any Nigerian as the Vice Chancellor provided that the person emerged through a transparent process.
According to them, ” MOUAU is a Federal government institution as such any Nigerian who is qualified can be the vice-chancellor. But we shall reject anyone produced through a compromised and jaundiced process ”
They lamented that the council Chairman, Comrade Fidelis Edeh has of late been holding nocturnal meetings with some Enugu State indigene who are staff of the university including a former vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Hilary Edeoga .
The group noted that such meetings were suspicious in view of the fact that Comrade Edeh who also hails from Enugu State ought to be neutral and uphold equity and transparency in the process leading to the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
” We have also observed with alarm the frequency of Council meetings being convened by Edeh outside the normal regular and emergency. We just hope that it is not another ploy to compromise some members ahead of the appointment “, they declared.
The group called on the federal ministry of education to take a special interest in the proceedings that will lead to the selection and appointment of a new vice Chancellor for MOUAU next month to ensure that only the best candidate emerged.
According to them, ” we don’t want a repeat of what happened at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where the then Council Chairman compromised and messed up the entire system. We demand transparency and fairness to ensure the credibility of the process. Anything short of it will not be acceptable to us,” they submitted.
The group’s demand for transparency is seen as a positive step towards ensuring that the university’s leadership is chosen based on merit and vision for the institution’s growth .
