The Coalition for Autonomy of Universities in Nigeria has singled out the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka, for the failure of the institution to successfully appoint a new Vice Chancellor to succeed him.
OYOINSIGHT recalls that following allegations of malpractices that that trailed the selection process of a new VC to succeed Olayinka, the process was cancelled and an acting VC was appointed to fill the position for the next six months.
In a statement by the Coalition of Autonomy of Universities on Monday, signed by its Coordinator, Olayemi Olaoluwa, the group maintained that the autonomy of the institution must be protected.
The statement read: “The Coalition for Autonomy of Universities in Nigeria has followed events leading to the truncation of the process of selecting a Vice Chancellor for the Premier University. It’s
disheartening that the University of Ibadan could be thrown into such a disgusting state despite its
history of setting the pace in administrative wizardry.
There were allegations that the immediate past VC was the campaign manager of one of the
candidates who was described as his ‘anointed candidate’ vying for the position of the VC of the
university. Meetings of his campaign committee were allegedly held in the VC lodge. It is therefore
better imagined what would have been the state of the institution if the immediate past VC had had
his ways to foist an unpopular candidate on the people as a Vice Chancellor. It would have been a
continuation of despotic leadership in the citadel of learning.
No doubt the response of the government to calls by stakeholders in the University for intervention
was a welcome, though avoidable, development. The immediate past VC should be blamed for the
threat to the university’s autonomy. His attempt to manipulate the system for his ‘anointed
candidate’ was the real cause of the mess to which the university was plunged. Investigations
revealed that the whole selection process was mismanaged, starting from the simple stage of
congregation election, which adopted e-voting to technically disenfranchise some members of
Congregation, to the election of representatives into the joint council and senate board to screen
candidates vying for the position of the VC, which was also fraught with unprecedented
controversies. It is on record that the Immediate past VC contributed in no small way to the
externalization by dispatching a delegation of senate to the NUC.
Consequently, series of protests and petitions rained torrentially on the campus. The once peaceful
institution became a war zone. Things fell apart. The Falcons were against the Falconers. And
against all voices of reasoning, the immediate past VC became an arbiter in a matter in which he
was supposedly the accused. The University’s Governing Council, in questionable manner,
insisted on continuing with a tainted selection process. This resulted in four members of Council,
who were bothered by the behaviour of Council, to protest, and even staged a walk-out at a meeting
of Council. Facts gathered from the University showed that some members of the Council might
have been compromised. There were allegations of money exchanging hands. The Chairman of
Council also had a building named in his ‘honour’ when the process was ongoing. Members of the
University Community were particularly disturbed at the decision of the University administration
to bestow the chairman with such honour. It’s on record that former Chairmen of Council such as
AbdulRahman Okene, Iya Abubakar, Felix Ohiwerei, Gamaliel Onosode and Wole Olanipekun,
despite their great contributions to the University as past Council chairmen, never had anything
named in their honour. For instance, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) built a state-of-the-art lecture
theatre for the University’s law faculty with his own money, and this was the only building named
after him. The only monument named after late Dr. Onosode was the park that a company he
headed gave to the University to celebrate the birthday of this great Nigerian. There is no record
of any building named after Elder Ohiwerei even when it was gathered that the Nigerian Breweries
under his chairmanship spent a lot of money to develop the University. We then wondered the reasons for the ‘gift’, offered to the ‘umpire’ when the game for selection of a VC was on? For us,
it was no doubt an inducement meant to provide a smooth sail for the ‘anointed candidate’ of the
out-gone VC.
There were petitions written by aggrieved contestants in the Senate election, for which the VC
allegedly misguided the University governing Council against serious review. Implicating text
messages were flying around, yet, the council went on with the selection process as if it was
normal. Electoral malpractice was being celebrated in a university that should set examples for the
public! The short listing of candidates was by no means transparent as candidates were allegedly
awarded scores not based on their performance. All these were in public domain. The University
was being pushed to the edge of the precipice and thus required a rescue.
Indeed there were cries to save the University from the singular destructive move of a man
consumed by rage and intoxicated by power, and one fighting imaginary enemies. He became
vindictive, and would have destroyed so much.
To us in CAUN, the immediate past VC, and the Council, should be held responsible for the
inconclusiveness of the selection process for another VC, all due to his meddlesomeness in the
process.
CAUN therefore support government efforts at restoring the dignity of the University of Ibadan,
as long as people are not allowed to meddle again in the selection process. We seek a transparent
and credible process to select a VC that will be acceptable to the people, and one to restore the
past glory of our great institution. The autonomy of the university must be respected without
manipulation and meddlesomeness. The situation must be salvaged.”
