The State Coordinator of Abia State youths, Comrade Cokey Lawson Nwachukwu have stated that Abia State students will make the University unfavourable if the next Vice-Chancellor is not indigenous.
He said this while speaking to Newsleverage after the protest held by student urging the governing council of the school to choose the next Vice-Chancellor from Abia State.
“We came to pass a message to the governing council of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and all the governing council screening the Vice-Chancellor candidates that they should give us an indigenous Vice-Chancellor.
We are not only agitating for an indigenous Vice-Chancellor but we know that there are indigenous candidates who are qualified, capable and experienced, who applied for the post of the Vice-Chancellor in the school.
For the past 20 years, there has been no Vice-Chancellor of Abia State origin in any Federal University in Nigeria. This is on record. We know how other States operate to get a Vice-Chancellor, Rector depending on the Federal Institution that’s in the State. We have always supported every Vice-Chancellor, Chairman of the governing council or Pro-Chancellor that we have been given since the inception of this school. So why can’t they also support us to produce a Vice-Chancellor when we know that we have capable hands that are qualified for the job. That’s the major reason why we are protesting. We were in school when Prof. Ikenna Onyido, Prof. Hillary Erdogan, Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta were all made Vice-Chancellors, we are counting up to 15 years. There has not been any problem because Abia State youths are always calm and supportive.
The Federal Government and the governing council cannot tell us that we do not have capable hands when we know that we have qualified candidates for the job at Michael Okpara University.’
When asked if the assertion that Abia State candidates were screened out of the position, he said that there has been no confirmation on it but on the list shortlisted, more than three Abians made the list.
‘For us to revolt means we want what is rightfully ours. We have maintained calm for the past twenty years and we will not take it anymore if the Vice-Chancellor does not come from Abia State. We will make the school unfavourable which we have never had’ he concluded.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Lawal Zayana, said it was the wish of the Council for an Abia indigene to emerge the next vice Chancellor, but maintained that due process must be followed.
“It is our wish that an Abia indigene emerges the next vice-chancellor.”
“Presently, we are still working to pick who is going to be the first, the second and the third-best among all the candidates and we are praying that an indigene of Abia becomes the first.”
“But, you know we are following procedures in the selection. They undergo exams, presented their documents, and we assess them.”
“We are going to be fair, without favour to anybody, but our prayer is that an Abian will become the next VC.”
“We are together with you, and our prayer is that an Abian becomes the next VC, but our hands are tied.”
The Youths, comprising members of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), Niger Delta students Union Government (NIGSUG), the student leaders, including Chibuzo Ndom who is the special adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on student matters, Kingsley Dozie, National Vice President of the OYC and Cyril Samuel for NANS and NIDSUG, were in attendance.
According to a report by COV/JONADAB, the last four successive vice Chancellors of the University after the pioneer VC who was from Abia were not Abia indigenes.
