By Okey Maduforo Awka
Twenty four hours after the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka had issued a threat to Prof Joe Ikechebelu that he would be sanctioned if he refuses to hand over,the embattled Ikechebelu has vacated office while Prof Carol Umobi has taken over as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the instruction.
However Prof Joe Ikechebelu has returned to his office as Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration and according to the University Public Relations Department Ikechebelu was never an Acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution .
According to the Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor of public relations and Special Duties Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu who spoke to reporters this Monday;
“As you all know, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka has taken over in the person of Prof Carol Arinze Umobi and she is right now in her office meeting with students of the University”
“There was Prof Joseph Ikechebelu who was directed to assume the position of Vice Chancellor on temporary capacity just to over see the happens in the University pending when the Governing Council will appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor”
“And the Council in fulfilment of it’s duties has now appointed an Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Carol Arinze Umobi who has assumed office this morning ‘
“Council directed that Prof Joseph Ikechebelu who was Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration should over see the University pending the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor and I want to make it clear that someone who is asked to to over see the University does not equate with an Acting Vice Chancellor “
“So when the Council came they in there wisdom based on the recommendations of the Senate of the University appointed an Acting Vice Chancellor in the person of Prof Carol Arinze Umobi “
“No Acting Vice Chancellor was appointed by the Council until now and Prof Ikechebelu was only told to over see the University and he was never appointed an Acting Vice Chancellor and he has handed over this morning ” he said.
Ojukwu further explained that there was no Governing Council for more than one year until the Federal Government appointed the 10th Governing Council headed by Amb Greg Uzumba Mbadiwe.
He noted that the Council wants to make sure that anybody who wants to contest for the substantive Vice Chancellor of this University will not be Acting Vice Chancellor in order to creat a level play ground for every contestant.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU had complained that someone who is an Acting Vice Chancellor contesting for the substantive Vice Chancellor is not fair and if Prof Joseph Ikechebelu is interested in contesting he is free and the list of the qualifed contestants would be made public and it is within the domain of the Governing Council to short list them , interview them and appoint because the Council has that power ” he said.
On the issue of the insistence of some internal members of the 9th Council that they should be members of the 10th Council Ojukwu noted that the position of the Council is that if you belong to the 9th Council you cannot belong to the 10th Council.
“However a Professor of this University has gone to Court to bare them and seeking interpretation and for an Order preventing the 9th Council from joining the 10th Council and while the case is pending the Council has advised members of the 9th Council to step aside”
“The matter being in Court does not prevent the University from working, the University will continue to work ” he said.
