An appeal has gone to Governor
Rochas Okorocha to take immediate and decisive steps to avert a looming
travesty of justice in the selection of a new Vice Chancellor for the
state-owned Imo State University. The
appeal made by a group known as “Concerned Citizens of Imo State/Alumni of Imo
State University”, noted that plans are underway to hoist an unpopular and
unqualified candidate as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University.
The group, made up of notable
indigenes of Imo State and distinguished alumni of the University, accused some
IMSU Governing Council officials of plans to circumvent the rules guiding the
selection process for appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor. It referred in particular to the attempt to
tinker with the age limit of candidates applying for the position of Vice
Chancellor in favour of the present Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.)
Adaobi Obasi who is not qualified by virtue of her over age status.
The group further alleged that
despite being over 65 years of age as stipulated by the IMSU Governing Council
advert for the position of Vice Chancellor in keeping with the National
Universities Commission (NUC) rule, the IMSU Governing Council has compromised
the process by refusing to disqualify Professor Obasi on grounds of age.
It disclosed that its intervention
in the matter is based on the need to uphold equity and fairness in the
selection process and to avert possible legal action. It observed that quantum of petitions, legal
pre-action notice, as well as petitions to the National Universities Commission
(NUC) challenging the circumvention of the screening and selection processes
are in the offing and only the prompt intervention of Okorocha will save the
precarious situation.
The group while commending the
free education programme of Owelle Rochas Okorocha led Rescue Mission
government and the stability it had brought to education in the state stated
that the progress so far recorded by the government should not be derailed by
power-hungry individuals out to feather their own nest at the detriment of the
state.
The group also commended
Okorocha’s ingenuity in the prompt payment of salary of teachers at all levels
in the state. They noted that the free education programme introduced and
sustained by Okorocha has invariably brought sanity and stability in the State
education system.
Okorocha’s ability to initiate
and execute massive infrastructural projects in the state was also
commended. The group noted in particular
the construction of state of the art school buildings, hospitals, markets,
roads among other face-lifting infrastructural facilities. “We are of sincere opinion that given the
numerous developmental strides achieved by the Rescue Mission Government, we do
not want a situation where activities of some self-serving individuals at the
Imo State University could smear and taint the hard won developmental image of
the government”, the group surmised.
