Scheduled University Senate not for election of Acting Vice Chancellor – Unizik

By Tony Okafor, Awka

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, has explained that the Wednesday 8 scheduled Senate meeting of the university is not for the election of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.

Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu,
Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor (Public Relations & Special Duties), gave the explanations in a press release made available to our correspondent on Monday morning.

Ojukwu’s explanation followed insinuations in some quarters, especially amongst those aspiring to the office of vice Chancellor of the university, that the outgoing VC, Prof Charles Esimone, is convening the Senate for the sole purpose of electing his successor.

Our correspondent gathered that the five year tenure of Prof Esimone will elapse on June 4.

Debunking the detractors’ insinuations, Ojukwu described the allegation that the forthcoming Senate was being convened solely to elect the Acting Vice Chancellor as false.

While urging everyone, especially VC aspirants, to calm down, Ojukwu said the appointment of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university would be made by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education.

Ojukwu’s statement read in part, “This is to inform the university community and the indeed the general public that the information being circulated in the social media about scheduled Senate meeting of the university is false and baseless.

“This is definitely the work of hirelings who are engaged by desperate aspirants for the position of the Vice Chancellor which will be vacant on June 4, 2024.

“The following facts are to be noted and reflects the true position in the university: “The previously scheduled meeting of university Senate was supposed to hold on Wednesday which fell on May 1, 2024 (Workers day).

“In deference to the sacrifices of the university workers and the Nigerian workers and also for the fact that the day was a public holiday declared by the Federal Government, the Senate meeting was rescheduled to the Wednesday May 8, 2024.

“The notice of the meeting was given one week ago. Therefore, the insinuation that a properly scheduled university senate is mischievously referred to as ‘ illegal’ by these detractors is infantile and shows lack of knowledge of how the university works.

“The allegation that the forthcoming Senate is convened solely to elect the Acting Vice Chancellor is false.

“The Senate meeting scheduled for Wednesday May 8, 2024 does not have any election of an Acting Vice Chancellor on the agenda. Since the Governing Council of the University is not yet in place, the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor will be made by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The agenda for all senate meetings are usually sent to the email of senators. The accusation that no agenda was available for the senate meeting is wrong, unbelievable and outrightly dumb.

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“The Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration Prof Joseph Ikechebelu, in the course of his duties, hold periodic meetings with several segments of the university. To insinuate that these dutiful meetings are called for the purposes of a so-called imaginary ‘election’ in the Senate is pedestal and unimaginable.

“Surprisingly, the level of desperation by these ambitious aspirants disregarding simple decorum and respect for others which is the cornerstone of the ivory tower is troubling and detestable.

“It is on this note that the Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone reiterates his plea to all aspirants to calm down and maintain the prevailing peace in the university in the over all interest of the university.

“Prof Esimone further assures that there will be a level playing field for all aspirants.”