A coalition of 25 Civil Society Organisations has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja.
The group is concerned about recent protests and allegations related to the selection process for the leadership position at the institution.
The CSOs expressed their frustration over the protests by some professors at the university, criticizing their actions as unnecessary and counterproductive. They argued that these protests were part of a broader effort to undermine the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, and disrupt the selection process, according to ThisDay.
The coalition condemned the actions of the protesting professors, calling them harmful and motivated by narrow, self-serving interests. They stated that it had been a long time since such disruptive behavior had been seen in Nigerian academic circles and that it represented an attempt by certain factions to exert control over the educational system.
The group also pointed to a history of manipulation in leadership selections at UniAbuja, claiming that many individuals had previously been unfairly denied opportunities to advance in their careers. They emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent selection process for the role of Vice Chancellor to ensure that the most qualified candidate is chosen.
Addressing claims of Southern exclusion from the selection committee, the CSOs dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated. They argued that the claims were part of an attempt to discredit the selection process and further an agenda.
The coalition called on President Tinubu to take immediate action to protect Professor Maikudi, whom they consider the most qualified candidate for the position. They urged the president to work through the Minister of Education to resolve the issue and safeguard the Acting Vice Chancellor from further attacks.
Additionally, the group called for the Nigeria Police to take action against those causing trouble, as outlined in their petition, and for the Minister of Education to establish a truth and reconciliation panel to address the aftermath of the Vice Chancellor selection controversy.
“We wish to begin by expressing unequivocally, our frustration and disappointment over the recent protest by some professors from University of Abuja over the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor in the institution.
“It is an absurdity and a direct attack on due process, betrayal of their experience, and direct assault on the globally demanded agenda to have more women and youths in leadership,” said Chinedu.
“In a long time, Nigerians have not seen professors involved in such a vexatious and demeaning absurdity, just to satisfy certain quarters that believe it is their exclusive right to decide what happens in the educational system. This act in academic circles is preposterous and requires to be nipped in the bud by ensuring that punishments are handed to those involved in the dance of shame.
“The antecedents of leadership selection in the University of Abuja suggest that many have been victims of such satanic manipulation which eventually denied them their rights to be at the very top echelon of their careers. Hence, there is a need to step in and ensure a competent hand is not denied her opportunity to bring greatness to the institution.
“After looking dispassionately at the allegations, we discovered that the claim that southerners were not included in the selection committee was untrue and it’s a desperate attempt to discredit the process, acting on the script of their sponsors,” Chinedu continued.
“We demand that President Bola Tinubu, through the Honourable Minister of Education, wade into the ensuing crisis and give needed protection for the acting vice chancellor who is a victim of ethnic gang-up, political orchestration, and desperate power mongers in the University of Abuja. This will prevent any attempts to ridicule his efforts in promoting youth and women’s leadership.
“We demand that the Nigeria Police invite troublemakers, as outlined in our petition, to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We demand that the Minister, after announcing Prof. Aisha Maikudi as recommended by us, should set up a truth and reconciliation panel for the post-VC tussle era,” he added.
