Fresh tension in University of Ibadan over appointment of new Vice Chancellor

…4 Governing Council members stage walk out

Fresh tension is now mounting at the University of Ibadan campus over the last minute moves towards the selection of a new Vice Chancellor for the Institution.

Already, men of the Oyo state Joint security outfit, Operation Burst have been drafted to Trenchard hall venue of the election for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor

The tension according to sources close the University was as a result of a directive from the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, ordering  fresh selection process for the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor following  numerous petitions against the initial selection process

It was learnt that midway to the planned  selection process, four members of the Governing Council of the University comprising of two external members appointed by the federal government Dr Jaju Muhammad and Prof Mande Samaila and two internal members of the council Professor Ademola Aremu and Professor Abel Olorunnisola staged a walk out.

The sources stated that the said 4 members walked out after efforts to ensure that the Council maintain absolute control and act according to the letter from the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission and Federal Ministry of Education which asked the Council to review the entire process including re-inviting shortlisted 18 candidates for the VC position.

According to the inside sources, the four members resolved into walking out of the meeting while

discussing the validity of the election being conducted by the out going Vice Chancellor despite the instruction by the Federal Ministry of Education that the Council should take charge”, insisting that the letter from Federal Ministry of Education and NUC must be adhere to.

The sources stressed that they were of the view that the Senate was wrong to have hurriedly met and ordered election within 24hours, saying, “they were worried that the election did not follow due process. Infact the election is already generating fresh crisis as many contestants pulled out of the election citing violation of FG directive and illegal process as reasons

“They felt that Federal Ministry of Education instructed Council to review it and not the Senate. In fact the Letter from the Federal Ministry of Education was not even presented for discussion at the Council meeting until they raised issues on the validity of the election being held on campus. Rather than allow the Council to act on petitions relating to the election, the Vice Chancellor was alleged to have only briefed the Council Chairman who was said the have health challenge at the time.”

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