Four members of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan on Wednesday walked out during the council meeting as the crisis rocking the university over the appointment of a new vice chancellor got messier.
The four included two external members, a representative of the university’s senate, and another representing the congregation – Mande Samaila, Jaju Muhammad, Abel Olorunrinsola, and Ademola Aremu respectively.
They accused the chairperson of the governing council, Joshua Waklek, of conniving with the outgoing vice-chancellor, Idowu Olayinka, to manipulate the selection process thus violating the directive of the Education minister, Adamu Adamu, on the matter.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) had on Monday advised the council to immediately reconvene and implement the steps outlined in the minister’s directive, and that the minister should be regularly updated on the development.
The minister had directed a comprehensive review of the process that led to the impasse in the appointment of a new vice-chancellor, fresh conduct of election of the two senate representatives, and that the vice-chancellor should recuse himself from the envisaged senate meeting.
The minister added that all the 18 applicants, who had initially satisfied the requirements outlined in the advertisement for the position, should be re-invited.
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The minister also directed that the final selection process be conducted in full compliance with laid down procedures “in an open and transparent manner, and in total compliance with the provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act (2007).”
However, four members of the council in a petition addressed to the minister through the NUC on Wednesday, listed some infractions against the chairperson of the council.
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The letter reads in part; “The voting conducted by the senate today did not meet the requirements of election norms in the University of Ibadan. For example, there was no call for fresh nominations, there was no opportunity for campaign, and there was no display of voters’ list (knowing fully well that senate composition has changed between the time of the last election and now, all due to the desperate rush to conclude the process.
“Only previous candidates for the election were contacted in less than 24 hours to the participation election and at least, six out of the nine candidates complained about the short notice and declined to participate. The voting process was guarded by state security operatives after it was disrupted at some point today.”
They further alleged that the chairperson “rebuffed all appeals made in the space of about five hours to let the council follow due process and the directives of your good self.”
But the chairperson of the council said that the matter is being looked into and that a meeting has been fixed for Monday, November 30, to take a definite position on it.
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