THE HIJACK OF OAU VC-POSITION: FG MUST NOT COMPROMISE STANDARD

As a postgraduate student of this great citadel of learning, I am greatly disappointed with the way
and manner by which the position of Vice-Chancellorship is being handled especially by some learned
figures in this ivory tower. Deeply and non-sentimentally, grievances such as this supposed to be addressed
in a court of law backed up by evidences that makes the selection process invalid as claimed by some
professors but instead, those interested in this Vice-Chancellorship positions are not doing things in a right
way, and it is unfortunate that the non-academic staffs through their leadership could be used to achieve
their selfish interest.
Solving grievances in Obafemi Awolowo University has gone to a level whereby the non-academic
staffs of the university are carrying coffin, using charms and cutlasses while the intellectuals that supposed
to ameliorate such grievances are fueling the crisis. It is so unfortunate that even in this present 21st century,
in a country govern by the rule of law, some people think they can hijack power through the backdoor
without learning from what the former President did (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) who instead of throwing
Nigeria into chaos respected the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and handed over to our honorable
President.
The struggle of NASU and SSANU (OAU Branch) against Professor Ayobami T. Salami
announced as the 11th Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University by the University Governing
Council charged with the sole responsibility of selecting the Vice-Chancellor and a process concluded by
the Federal Government was fueled by some aggrieved Professors of the University who were disqualified
from the selection process. Instead of seeking for redress in the court of law, they decided to use NASU
and SSANU that are well coordinated and highly respected. These professors capitalized on the grievances
between the two unions and Professor Bamitale Omole to ground the system. These professors claimed
that the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Ayobami T. Salami will cover up for his predecessors lapses. To
worsen the situation, even after the announced dissolution of governing council, the unions have not
desisted from disturbing the peace of the university community. These Professors funded them to ground
all activities in the university which is absolutely wrong. It is totally of no use to mention the names of

these aggrieved Professors that are funding this lawlessness because they also connived with other
Professors in the University to write an exclusive untrue open letter to the President of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
On a final note, our dear President, President Muhammadu Buhari, gaskiya, has been advised
wrongly to take a decision to disband the governing council of the University which is not in accordance
with the laws governing Federal Universities. I remembered when the President Muhammadu Buhari
mistakenly fired some newly appointed Vice-Chancellors appointed by his predecessor, President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathans which was against the laws governing Federal Universities, our humble and
law abiding President reinstated those affected Vice-Chancellors. The University Autonomy Act No.1,
2007 and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provision {Amendment}) Act 2012 clearly state when the Visitor
to any Federal University in Nigeria can dissolve a Governing Council. The section 2A of the principal Act
as amended states that; The council so constituted shall have tenure of four years from date of its
inauguration provided that where a council is found corrupt it shall be dissolved by the Visitor and a new
Council shall be immediately constituted for effective functioning of the University. However, the
Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (constituted in 2013) under Professor Rowland
Ndoma Egba has not completed its four-year term and there has not been any confirmed case of corruption.
Therefore, following the law carefully, four years tenure of the Governing Council must be completed
before it can be dissolved. The Federal Government cannot in anyway appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor
when they duly elected one (Prof. Ayobami T. Salami) under the laws governing Federal Universities. This
may cause serious chaos because to do so will constitute an act of illegality.
I hereby call the attention of the Visitor to the menace going on in Obafemi Awolowo University.
Rule of law should be strictly followed. A visionary leader is what Obafemi Awolowo University needs not
power hungers.
Concerned OAU Post-graduate student