~ Scheme Allegedly Bankrolled By Top Politicians Within And Outside Anambra
Indications have emerged that the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Charles Esimone may not be resting on his oars in his desperation to impose a lackey and political stooge on the university community as his successor.
Professor Esimone whose tenure as Vice-Chancellor expires on the 3rd of June 2024 has appointed some younger lecturers who are loyal to him as Heads of Departments across most of the university’s faculties in order to boost the number of Senators who would be ready to do his bidding.
Working in cahoots with key political leaders from within Anambra and outside, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor is allegedly mobilising these younger lecturers whom he appointed as acting heads of the various departments to cast a kangaroo vote, appointing his stooge, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, thereby overriding the authority of President Tinubu.
The sudden postponement of the 224th Senate of the University which was billed to hold on the last Wednesday of this month is seen as part of the plots to advance his despicable scheme. It has also emerged that heavyweight politicians in the State, especially, those nursing interest in running for the governorship of the State have doled out handsome sums of money to buy over the acting heads of departments in order to secure their votes for the kangaroo appointment of Ikechebelu as the acting VC.
Speaking to our reporter, a Professor in the School of Medicine who does not want his name in print, decried the overreaching interference of politicians in the university’s leadership selection process and called for restraint on the part of the university’s management and staff.
“The university is an academic environment and attempts to contaminate the community with the horrendous and corrupt politics of the day is condemnable. If Ikechebelu is so desirous of working for the victory of a particular politician in the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State, then, he should resign as an academic and join politics fully, instead of mortgaging the academic and research interests of our university on the altar of partisan politics.”
Another Professor in the faculty of law expressed regrets at what he described as “desecration of the academic temple with egregious political manipulation and brinkmanship”.
“If Esimone has nothing to hide, he should allow the process of selecting a Vice-Chancellor to run its normal course without undue interference. His desperation to impose a lackey, in the person of Ikechebelu makes one give deeper thought to the allegation in some corners that beyond serving the interest of some political paymasters, he is also looking to cover up his alleged financial malfeasance throughout his years as a Vice-Chancellor in the university.”
The Professor of Law called on President Tinubu to immediately intervene in the UNIZIK debacle by appointing a reliable and competent Professor from within the university to take charge of the university’s leadership until a governing council is duly constituted to take over the process of selecting a substantive Vice-Chancellor for the university.
UNIZIK: Prof Esimone Can Not Impose His Stooge As Acting Vice-Chancellor
