By Felix Khanoba
A coalition of 25 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing controversy surrounding the selection of a Vice Chancellor for the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).
Speaking during the presentation of their report at the main gate of the University on Friday in Abuja, the coalition, operating under the name Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development, criticized recent protests by some professors at the university, labeling their actions as unnecessary and counterproductive.
“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 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 Dr. Wisdom Ohalete Chinedu, who spoke on behalf of the group.
The CSOs alleged that the protest was part of a deliberate effort to undermine the reputation of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi.
“We observed with incontrovertible evidence that the entire protest is about an orchestrated plan to discredit Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice Chancellor who had previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor without any record of failure or non-qualification. The desperation to pull her down because she is a woman, a youth, and a northerner is antithetical to the development of education in Nigeria, especially at a time when global attention is on harnessing the numerous potentials of young people, especially women, to boost growth,” Chinedu said.
The group further condemned the actions of the protesting professors, calling them a “vexatious and demeaning absurdity” aimed at serving parochial interests.
“In a long time, Nigerians have not seen professors involving 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 coalition also alleged a history of manipulations in UniAbuja’s leadership selections and emphasized the need for a fair process.
“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.”
According to the group, allegations of southern exclusion from the selection committee were baseless and politically motivated.
“After looking dispassionately at the allegations, we discovered that the claim that southerners were not included in the selection committee was untrue and a desperate attempt to discredit the process, acting on the script of their sponsors,” Chinedu said.
The coalition urged President Tinubu to take decisive action to safeguard Prof. Maikudi, whom they described as the most qualified candidate for the role.
“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 obviously 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,” the coalition concluded.
