…Pro-chancellor insists council can meet anywhere, rules out acting VC
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Concerns are mounting over the decision of the Governing Council of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), to relocate the interview for the appointment of the institution’s 7th Vice-Chancellor from the university campus to Abuja.
The decision, announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Governing Council, gave shortlisted candidates just one week’s notice to prepare for the trip to the federal capital.
Insider sources estimate that the relocation could cost the university more than ₦50 million in logistics, covering accommodation, transportation, and other expenses for over 40 council members and management staff, should the exercise proceed in Abuja.
Although the council reportedly cited security concerns as justification for the change of venue, the move has attracted sharp criticism from stakeholders, who describe it as rash, self-serving, and unnecessary.
A former Secretary to the Abia State Government (SSG), Dr Eme Okoro, alleged that the decision smacked of “foul play or compromise,” arguing that neither the Abia State Government nor security agencies had reported any threat to the MOUAU campus.
Dr Okoro said the administration of Governor Alex Otti, working in synergy with security agencies, was fully capable of addressing any genuine security concerns, if such existed.
“By implication, the council chairman is telling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alex Otti that they cannot secure a small place like a university campus for a statutory council meeting to select a Vice-Chancellor,” he said.
He warned that the decision could undermine public confidence in the credibility and integrity of the selection process, adding that the failure to consult widely before taking such a consequential step raised serious questions.
The former SSG also faulted the council for giving aspirants only one week to mobilise to Abuja, noting that the original advertisement did not indicate that the interview would hold outside Umuahia.
He urged the Pro-Chancellor to reverse the decision immediately, warning that it could backfire, citing the controversy that trailed the Vice-Chancellor selection process at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, which eventually attracted presidential intervention.
Pro-Chancellor responds
Reacting to the criticism, the Pro-Chancellor, Comrade Edeh, dismissed claims of ulterior motives, insisting that governing councils are legally empowered to hold meetings and interviews anywhere they deem fit.
He said it was not unusual for Vice-Chancellor selection exercises to be conducted in Abuja, adding that such sittings are sometimes combined with council retreats.
Edeh denied declaring Abia State unsafe, stressing that the relocation should not be a source of concern, especially as none of the VC aspirants had lodged any formal complaint.
He disclosed that some principal officers of the university had recently been invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a media publication, while a group had allegedly threatened to disrupt council meetings unless a particular lecturer was promoted to professor.
“These developments informed the council’s decision,” he said, adding that the relocation should not be misconstrued as an indictment of Abia’s security situation.
The Pro-Chancellor also questioned the involvement of individuals who, according to him, had no direct relationship with the university, describing their comments as interference driven by hidden agendas.
“We have followed due process. No amount of propaganda will force the council to compromise standards or fairness,” he said.
He disclosed that 22 candidates applied for the position, out of which 18 were shortlisted for interview.
No plan for acting VC
Edeh further dismissed speculations about plans to appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor, describing such claims as unfounded.
“There is no plan for an acting VC. That will not happen. Anyone scheming for that option is an enemy of the university,” he declared.
Zonal rotation and succession
MOUAU, established 34 years ago, has maintained an informal rotational arrangement among South-East states in producing its Vice-Chancellors.
The pioneer VC, Prof. Placid Njoku (Imo State), served from 1993 to 1999, followed by Prof. Ogbonnaya Onwudiwe (Abia State) from 2000 to 2006, and Prof. Ikenna Onyido (Anambra State) from 2006 to 2011.
Others include Prof. Hilary Edeoga (Enugu State, 2011–2016), Prof. Francis Otunta (Ebonyi State, 2016–2021), and the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe (Abia State), whose tenure ends on February 28, 2026.
Analysts say that, if the rotational pattern is sustained, Imo State may have a strong claim to produce the next Vice-Chancellor.
