We had reported how the announcement of
Prof Adebayo Bamire as the 12th substantive VC of OAU sparked a series of
protests led by some Ife indigenes. The protesters argued that an Ife indigene
should have been appointed.
We gathered that Prof Rufus Adedoyin, who
hails from Ile-Ife, came ninth in the screening, which saw 16 candidates
shortlisted for interaction for the post of VC by the Joint Council and Senate
Selection Board.
Determined to ensure the installation of an
Ile-Ife indigene as the next OAU VC, some indigenes entered the varsity’s
campus with fetish objects.
But the Committee of Pro-Chancellors in a
communique signed by its chairman, Professor Nimi-Briggs, and made available to
media on Wednesday, argued that the OAU as a Federal Institution has staff and
students from all over Nigeria and the world hence the Vice-chancellor can come
from any part of Nigeria, and globally.
“The insistence that an indigene of Ife be
appointed to the position of Vice-Chancellor that formed the basis of the
protest is very unfortunate at two levels. First, OAU, is a federal institution
and has staff from all over Nigeria. Second, and more importantly, it is a
university that recruits staff and students from all over the world. In the
same vein, the Vice-chancellor can come from any part of Nigeria and the wider
world”.
The joint body of Pro-chancellors also
called for an investigation into the disruptions.
“While several meaning Nigerians and other
stakeholders such as the Alumni association of OAU, the Osun state government
as well as the palace of the Ooni of Ife have condemned the act, the Committee
of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities insists that this matter be
properly investigated by the country’s law enforcement agencies and criminal
charges be brought against those who fomented it.
“This will serve as a deterrence towards
future occurrences and protect the Vice-chancellor when he assumes office”.
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