The dismissed Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Bernard Odoh, expressed his dissatisfaction on Thursday regarding the manner in which he was removed from his position. He argued that the process did not follow due procedure.
Odoh’s comments came in the wake of his ousting, along with the university’s governing council, over what was described as his “illegal” appointment.
In a statement released on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government was urged to intervene in order to defuse the growing tensions surrounding the issue.
Read Also: Why Tinubu Dissolved Unizik’s Governing Council, Sacked VC, Registrar
“The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.
“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 33-year-old institution.
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process,” read the statement.
Read Also: Arewa Consultative Forum Campaigns For Northern Presidency Ahead Of 2027, Faults Tinubu’s Policies
However, in an interview on Arise TV, Odoh insisted that he would not accept his removal via a press release, but only after receiving the recommendations of an investigative council.
He said, “I’m not disobeying Mr President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack after investigating me,” adding that “Mr President could have been ill-advised.”
“You can’t fire somebody you didn’t employ. The Visitor (Tinubu) appointed the council and the council followed due process to engage and give me a letter. He can’t remove me through a press release.
“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release but rather by a constituted authority which followed a straightforward procedure,” he added.
Regarding the debate over his confirmation as a Professor, Odoh dismissed the allegation as false. He explained that when rumors and false reports about his professorship surfaced, the then-Registrar, at the time of his confirmation, took his records to the Sokoto State High Court for verification.
“What some people did was to pay somebody to remove my records from the university. The VC who appointed me still teaches at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and he wrote my reference letter,” he added.
He added that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, “jumped the gun” with regards to his sack as he (Odoh) has four pending lawsuits filed against him in different courts.
“Those matters are yet to be determined, and now the minister jumped the gun on a matter the Federal Ministry of Education is a party to as defendants. The court hasn’t ruled on this matter. So, I don’t see a basis for all of this noise,” he noted.
Odoh stated that his struggle is linked to being from a “third-class” state, and emphasized his intention to visit the university to ensure that accreditations and activities are carried out properly.
“I’m from Ebonyi State. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State. People have ganged up to remove me at all costs.
“I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. The Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a crisis on campus. I am an alumnus of this university. It pains me that the university is being destroyed,” he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities accused the institution’s Governing Council of bypassing proper procedures in the appointment of Odoh and called on the ministry to dissolve the council due to its illegal actions.
For More Information And News Update, Join Informant Online WhatsApp Channel With Link Below:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaihFajBadmT29ufud2Z
