By Ifeanyichukwu Nnopu
That Nnamdi Azikiwe University also called UNIZIK has in recent times notoriously and negatively trended in the social media is an undisputable fact. Also that the reason for this bad image of UNIZIK is the unhealthy and sharp practices to clinch the position of Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university cannot be argued about. A university that has produced four non-substantive Vice Chancellors in less than one calendar year and is still set to produce more non-substantive Chancellor(s) is quite un-cheering and non-commendable in all ramifications. The Gospel truth is that the unstable and rancorous nature in UNIZIK makes the university no longer conducive for teaching and research. This is caused much more by absence of PEACE.
To reverse this notoriety and negativity about the university requires drastic measures regarding how this struggle for Vice Chancellorship is handled by the Federal Government of Nigeria. One sure-way of achieving this is the creation of a level playing ground for the contest for Vice Chancellorship of UNIZIK. The Principal solution is the exclusion of the current Acting Vice Chancellor (Prof. Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu) from contesting the election due to moral, economic and political reasons as explained hereunder.
Moral Justification for exclusion of Prof. J. I. Ikechebelu: The introduction of concept of level playing ground in the contest of position of VC Federal Universities is a positive radical innovation by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration that is worthy of emulation and should be copied by the various Independent Electoral Commissions to conduct elections at the Local Government, State and National elections.
At UNIZIK, it was therefore not surprising that the present Pro-chancellor, Barrister Olugbenga Kukoyi, was emphatic as stated in the social media that: “Ikechebelu should not contest UNIZIK VC”. The Prochancellor’s declaration no doubt must have been informed by the trend and mood in Vice Chancellorship contests in other Nigerian Federal universities such as University of Abuja, Alvan Ikoku University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This practice is referred to as the concept of Level Playing Ground and it should also be implemented in UNIZIK. This is as the saying goes: “What is good for the Goose is also good for the Ganders”.
Added to the above why Professor Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu should not contest is his worrisome closeness to Minister of Education to the extent that he represented both the Minister and President in the last convocation of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Hence to allow him to contest could be likened to a 100 metre race contest, where his fellow contestants’ hands are tied and his (Prof. Ikechebelu) hands are not only left free but he is boosted with a drug enhancing drugs. Surely, this if allowed in its entirety is an unfair and a biased contest skewed to favour Prof. Ikechebelu. Indeed, rather than engage highly lopsided and skewed contest, it is better that Prof. Ikechebelu is out rightly declared the winner than wasting other contestants’ times.
Additionally antithetical to the innovative introduction of concept of level playing ground in choosing of VCs of universities in Nigeria is the breeding of attack dogs followers who using the paraphernalia of incumbent powers. These attack dogs have intimidated members of UNIZIK community from positively and objectively commenting on matters affecting growth of the university. So we now have a Graveyard type of peace in UNIZIK. This is not good for the university system and goes contrary to the intendment, letters and spirits of academic activities. Therefore, Prof. Ikechebelu should not contest this present UNIZIK VC election if this ugly trend must be reversed.
Economic Justification for exclusion of Prof. Ikechebelu: The alleged wastefulness and corrupt practices in UNIZIK is pervasive and almost becoming a norm. One such example is the shocking and regrettable flagrant abuse of process and inflation of contract sums. It has reached a crisis and alarming proportions to the extent that in one of such instances, a contract that was reported awarded at a cost of one hundred and eighty million (N180m) four months ago was inflated to three hundred and seventy million (N370m). The shabby and poor execution of the ongoing contract confirms the financial recklessness and insanity of the adhoc regime in UNIZIK. As at now Prof. Ikechebelu and co-travellers in this act have been dragged to the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for this particular contract.
Deceptive, Destructive, Clandestine and Surreptitious Partisan Politicization of Vice Chancellor contest: The chameleonic political flirtation of Prof Ikechebelu is a confirmation of the fact that Prof Ikechebelu cannot be trusted. His brand of selfish Machiavellian politics of end justifies the means is a confirmation that he has no regard for agreements. Simply put, he cannot be trusted to keep promises. For example, his major financial sponsors are chieftains of People Democratic parties (PDP). The leader of Labour party is a regular and frequent visitor to events in UNIZIK. Prof Ikechebelu also belongs to several All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) party Committees. Past activities have it that he detests and abhors everything about the All Progressive Congress (APC). But due to the desperation to be Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, he has lately started pretentiously acting funny as regards his sympathy for APC political party. For example, why still majorly being funded by the two rival PDP and Labour parties, he is extending Greek gifts of Honorary Doctorate Degrees and unwholesome contracts to some perceived influential APC members who will assist him secure the VC position. Obviously as one who is generally understood within the UNIZIK community for not keeping promises, your guess is as good as mine on the outcome of his recently becoming more Catholic than the Pope to APC members will be, if he ever succeeds in deceiving these APC members to unjustly impose him as VC on the UNIZIK community.
The argument that the concept of Level Playing Ground was not written in his appointment letter does not hold water as close watchers believe that he was verbally informed of it and that the appointment was a settlement before they started putting it on paper for other Acting VCs of other universities.
But even if he was not informed in writing he should have sincerely resigned when he saw it happening in three universities namely University of Abuja, Alvan Ikoku University and University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He should just forget about the contest as it is too late to even resign after positioning his men in strategic positions and places that shall directly and indirectly give him undue advantage in UNIZIK VC electoral contests.
Also, the Federal Government and Governing Council of UNIZIK should be very careful to ensure that the academic progress and unity of members of UNIZIK community cannot be slaughtered on the inordinate desperate ambition of one man to become Vice Chancellor. It should also not be a reason to truncate an outstanding innovative legacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that should be fine-tuned to possibly be the solution to Nigeria’s electoral problems.
In conclusion, UNIZIK is not a sacred cow that should be excluded from this noble and progressive level playing ground rule that has started yielding positive dividends in Nigerian universities. It is the belief that the exclusion of Prof. Ikechebelu from UNIZIK VC contest will go a long way (about 80%) in calming nerves and solving the problem of UNIZIK.
Nnopu is a Systems Analyst based in Awka, Anambra State.
