The Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Lillian Salami, has asked the Federal Ministry of Education to clear the air on the status of Mallam Lamido Sanusi as the Chancellor of the institution.
Lillian made the call while responding to inquiry by journalists over the blacklisting of Sanusi from the university’s programme/acknowledgment during recent events to mark its 50th anniversary and the VC one year in office.
Sanuni was conspicuously conspicuously absent or represented at both events.
Besides, Sanusi portraits that were hitherto conspicuous at key offices and at the university’s photos gallery have been removed after he was deposed as Emir of Kano State.
The position of chancellor in federal government-owned universities is reserved for first class traditional rulers.
The VC said, “I really don’t have any answer for that. You can ask the federal ministry of education. They are the one who knows whether he was deposed or removed.
“To the best of my knowleged, no letter came to me… I didn’t get any formal letter. I will not be able to give any position.
“I have a very good relationship with him (Sanusi) and I can say that anywhere… Not even as VC, but on a personal level.”
Sanusi was appointed Chancellor of the institution in 2015 by the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
He was however deposed by Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, in March 2020 over “insubordination”.
Blueprint gathered to no letter of disengagement has been transmitted to the institution by President Muhammadu Buhari or the federal ministry of education.
The deposed emir performed his last official duty as Chancellor during the Convocation/Founders Day Ceremonies of the University in November 2019.
