Photo: Dr. Alex Otti, Abia State Gov.
By: Mandy Park
The decision by the Chairman of the Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Comrade Fidelis Edeh, to relocate the interview of candidates for the position of the institution’s 7th Vice-Chancellor from the university campus to Abuja has sparked widespread outrage.
A statement issued on Wednesday announced the change of venue and gave the aspirants one week to prepare for the trip to the Federal Capital Territory.
It is estimated that the university may spend over N50 million to cover the logistics of more than 40 council members and management staff expected to participate in the exercise if it is held in Abuja.
Sources said Comrade Edeh cited security concerns as the reason for the relocation. However, critics have questioned the justification, noting that the Council Chairman was present on campus on Tuesday to address journalists without any reported security incident.
Stakeholders have described the decision as hasty, self-serving and disrespectful to the Abia State Government and security agencies, which have not indicated any security threat at the university.
Reacting on Wednesday, a former Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, expressed concern over what he described as possible foul play or compromise behind the decision to move the exercise from Umudike to Abuja, given the cost implications and inconvenience to the candidates.
Dr. Okoro, a statesman, said Governor Alex Otti and relevant security agencies were capable of addressing any genuine security challenges, if such existed.
“By implication, the Council Chairman is telling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti that they cannot secure a small place like a university campus for the council to hold a meeting for the purpose of selecting a vice-chancellor,” he said.
“The wider implication is that the process for the selection may already have been compromised and that those involved know their actions would be rejected,” he added.
The former SSG also questioned how the credibility and integrity of the selection process could be sustained amid growing suspicion surrounding the relocation.
He disclosed that he had personally contacted Comrade Edeh, urging him to ensure transparency in the emergence of a credible scholar as the university’s 7th Vice-Chancellor.
Dr. Okoro further raised legal and moral concerns over giving contestants only one week’s notice to mobilise to Abuja, noting that the original advertisement for the position did not indicate that the interview would be conducted outside Umudike.
He called on the Council Chairman to immediately rescind the decision to avoid potential backlash.
“They should learn from what happened at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, where the Council was obdurate and flagrantly abused the process, only for them to be swept away by Mr. President,” he said.
