Federal Varsity Lokoja VC Race: Speaker/Pro-chancellor’s alleged favourite, Prof MS Audu, rumoured choice to replace Prof Akinwumi
Barely a week after the closure of submission of applications, and few weeks to the commencement of shortlisting of qualified candidates for the position of the Vice-chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, supporters of the former deputy Vice-chancellor (Administration), Professor Muhammad Suleiman Audu, have started celebrating the victory of their candidate, who they claim is the favourite candidate of the duo of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt Honourable Tajuddeen Abbas and the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Institution’s Governing Council.
Professor M.S. Audu whose supporters, according to our investigations, are pretty sure that he is the one to succeed the outgoing Vice-chancellor, Professor Olayemi Durotimi Akinwumi, because of the maximum support he is enjoying from both the Speaker and the Pro-chancellor, courtesy of the overall support of Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo.
Education Monitor’s investigations revealed that the University is one of the federal Universities in the country with highly qualified and very experienced Professors who have all it takes to steer its affairs, but unfortunately, whenever it was time to chose the best, intrigues and personal interests usually set in, and the best and most qualified candidates are usually not shortlisted for interview to pave way for a favoured candidate.
Some of the stakeholders that this paper spoke to on the ongoing and needless intrigues, who do not want their names in print, called on the speaker, if the allegations about his involvement in the process is true, to steer clear of the process, and should also caution the Pro-chancellor, who is also rumoured to be his brother, to avoid being used to circumvent the process.
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The stakeholders also called on the speaker, who they said is a man of integrity to prevail on the Pro-chancellor to ensure that he and his fellow council members create a level playing ground where the best candidate will emerge.
“Instead of favouring a particular candidate, who may not be the best, but because he has godfathers who have excess money to use to secure favour for him, the Pro-chancellor should not allow himself to be dragged into a dirty and indecent selection and appointment process,” they opined.
The stakeholders also advised the entire council members of the University, who are also people of integrity, to know that every candidate is their own, therefore, it is ethical to be fair to everyone.
“They should all work towards ensuring that the best candidate emerges based on merit, rather than favouritism or financial influence”, they stated.
They further opined that the implications of not creating a level playing field are far-reaching. If the selection process is compromised, the council’s reputation and that of the University and academic standards may suffer.
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A Vice-Chancellor appointed through favouritism may prioritise personal interests over the University’s needs, leading to poor decision-making and stagnation.
Furthermore, a compromised selection process can demotivate qualified candidates and undermine the morale of existing staff. If talented academics feel that their chances of advancement are determined by connections rather than merit, they may seek opportunities elsewhere, leading to a brain drain and decreased competitiveness.
Additionally, the University’s stakeholders, including students, staff, and the broader community, may lose trust in the institution’s leadership. This can lead to industrial actions, protests, and other forms of unrest, ultimately affecting the University’s stability and productivity.
In the long run, a Vice-Chancellor appointed through a flawed process may struggle to drive the University forward, hindering its growth and development. It is essential that the selection process is transparent, merit-based, and free from external interference to ensure the University’s future success.
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