Sunday, 10 July 2016

Sacked OAU Governing Council Members Petition Buhari

External members of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari over the dissolution of the varsity Council.

Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the university, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, signed the letter on behalf of four others including Arc Omoyele Daniel, Chief Moses Otazi, Hon. Tajjani Goni Guzamala and Barrister S.I. Ameh (SAN).

The name of the representative of the Federal Ministry of Education in the council, Ms Ann Ebun Haruna, was also listed.

Entitled “In the service of our country” the letter was dated 8th July, 2016 and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The OAU Governing Council inaugurated in February 2013 still has about two years to serve before it was terminated “with immediate effect” by the fiat of the Federal Ministry of Education on July 1, 2016.
The Pro-Chancellor said that they were astonished to hear over the mass media including advertorial that their Council together with that of the University of Port Harcourt had been dissolved “with immediate effect” on July 1, 2016.

He noted that they were unfortunately unable to say why the OAU Council was dissolved since the advertorial did not say so. The Council members, he said, felt obliged that it is in the interest of their integrity given the high confidence reposed in them by government to adduce the possible reasons for the dissolution of the Council.

On why the Council was dissolved, he noted that they should perhaps present their own side of the story since there are always two sides to a story.

Ndoma-Egba said, “We are left with no other option than this since we were not queried or given the opportunity to defend ourselves before the punishment was meted out. Perhaps as free citizens saddled with such high social responsibility, we deserved more. Our objective is not to challenge government action but to leave a written permanent record of events that probably led to the dissolution of OAU Council.”

The Pro-Chancellor noted that the immediate cause of the dissolution of the OAU Governing must be the appointment of the 11th Vice Chancellor of the university.

He said that the term of office of the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Pro. Bamidele Omole, was to end on 23, June 2016.

He added that the appointment of VCs in any federal university ought not to be “rocket science” because the Federal Ministry of Education produced in conjunction with the National Universities Commission “a complete, detailed directory on how it should be done.”

The Pro-Chancellor said that using the FME guide, Council set out a due process that will ensure that a VC elect emerged by April 12, 2016 to allow the VC elect to understudy the incumbent VC for a period of approximately two months before taking over.

He outlined the steps the Council took to ensure that a VC elect emerged seamlessly including December 15-17, 2015, advertisement of vacancy with clearly spelt out criteria/ template for candidates that befits the status, age and international standing of OAU.

On January 28, 2016, he said that special Council meeting to select chairman of “The search team” who must be an external member of Council, was held where Chief Moses Otazi was unanimously selected; January 28, 2016 closure of application for VC; February 1, 2016 search team commended activities, March 7, 2016, search team concluded its activities after visiting over ten universities and over 90 professor head-hunted.

He said that there was no external applicant in spite of search.

The Pro-Chancellor said that on March 8, 2016, Council met to consider and short-list applications already submitted by interested candidates using advert template for the short-listing process.

He noted that before opening the boxes containing applications, Council debated the criteria and decided on the weighing of each of the criteria while before the scoring began, the cut-off point for short-listing was also agreed upon.

He said that at the end of the short-listing exercise, six candidates were short-listed, in “alphabetical order and without scores in the recommendation of the selection board.”

He added, “On 7th April, 2016, while waiting to commence the interaction/interview, two unions SSANU and NASU who had been on strike for some ‘allowances and palliatives’ from the outgoing administration, turned their vengeance towards the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board.

“It would seem at this point that all efforts were being harnessed to frustrate the Selection Board. It would seem that the strike action was hijacked and further sponsored by some vested interests who did not want the due process to continue. It would also seem that the delay tactics were aimed at enabling SSANU and NASU to get a court injunction to stop the process.”

The Pro-Chancellor noted that on persuasion by the varsity administration, a meeting of Council was summoned at the varsity International Conference Centre to consider the aborted interaction process at 11.30pm.

On how Ooni of Ife rescued the Council members from danger, he said, “It is amazing that the SSANU and NASU strikers became severely violent and restive. When I called out to the incumbent VC to call the Police, he said the Police Commissioner refused to answer. It even became more serious when I asked him to call State Security Service and the VC said the SSS feared that the workers could be armed and so will not come. At this point (12.30am), I had to call Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11.”

According to him, “That the External (Council) members are alive to tell this story owes everything to the concern and bravery of the Ooni of Ife. That the security services abandoned us to the whims and caprices of the irate, wild and violent workers cannot be acceptable.”

Following the incident, he said that Council decided on advice to hold future meetings of the Selection Board in Abuja for security reasons.

Ndoma-Egba asked, “Is somebody saying that having faced this ordeal as hostages, and having been abandoned by the security services, we deserve to be dissolved as a reward. Our witness is His Royal Majesty the Ooni of Ife who deserves a special national honours for saving our lives. We have not been communicated, there was no invitation. We were dismissed just like that through radio, television and advertorial. Is it true that there are people above the law? Who is it that just sat down and say just dismiss them.”

He noted that probably the candidates who felt that they would not emerge successful and some others who were not short-listed may have engineered the action against the Selection Board.

The Pro-Chancellor said that a new VC appointed by the Council had already been recognised because the law says “Council shall appoint.”
He regretted that “They are now going to appoint another person to cause mayhem and possible blood shed.”

“There is no provision for acting VC, there is no provision for interim VC. Why should you dissolve the Council when the conditions for dissolving the Council are laid down either for corruption, mismanagement or incompetence. If we were dissolved for any of the above, we should be told.”

He also said that if the Council was in contempt of any court, the court has the resources to sanction them.
Ndoma-Egba attached a letter dated 18th May, 2016 by the Federal Ministry of Education which asked the Council to ensure due process in the appointment of a new VC for OAU.

He also attached another letter by the Federal Character Commission dated 20th June, 2016 which gave the Council certificate of compliance as an authority to issue letter of appointment to Professor Ayobami Taofeek Salami, as substantive VC of the OAU.



Source

Saturday, 9 July 2016

JAMB Releases Official Guidelines For Admission Into Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the guidelines for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

In a Release dated 8th July 2016, JAMB noted that the Federal Government has directed that these guidelines be strictly adhered to without any alteration.

See the guidelines below:





http://www.oaupeeps.com/p/blog-page_3.html

#AfrikaLivesOn: OAU Students Remember Fallen Heroes

In remembrance of the July 10,1999 fallen martyrs, the Obafemi Awolowo University Students' Union has organized a 2-day programme to commemorate it.

The fallen OAU 5 include; George Iwilade (a.k.a Afrika), Efe Ekpede, Babatunde Oke, Eviano Ekelemu and Yemi Ajiteru.

The event kicked-off today at about 10am with signing of the Condolence register at AngloMoz car park. Despite the present shutdown of the university, some conscious students of OAU were present to sign the condolence register in honour of the fallen martyrs.

Speaking with OAU Peeps News Agency , the CSO and acting Students' Union leader, Comrade Olumighty said the remembrance of the OAU 5 comes up every year and it is done so as to remind every great Ife student that some people died for their just course - which is to liberate and combat cultism, violence and other vices on OAU Campus. He further narrated the event saying the fallen heroes sacrificed their lives for the serenity presently enjoyed on campus starting from working without fear at midnight coupled with total eviction of cultism on OAU campus.

Olumighty however stated that students greater than these martyrs can still surface, but only if all great Ife students unite and fight for their rights especially with the present bad situation on campus.

The remembrance also witnessed an anti-cultism parade/security search and film show. Tomorrow, July 10, has been slated for a symposium, candle night procession and bonfire.

See more photos below




http://www.oaupeeps.com/p/blog-page_3.html

Breaking: Nigerian Senate Wades In, Vows To Look Into #ReOpenOAU

Following several calls by the students of Obafemi Awolowo University to many leaders of the country, requesting that they wade into the long time closure of the institution, the Nigerian Senate is the latest in the series of prominent personalities and systems that have waded in. The Senate has vowed to look into the matter once the Senate resumes next week.

Reacting to one of the several tweets where he was tagged, the President of the Senate, Olubukola Saraki said the matter will be looked into once session resumes.


You can also make your own voice heard by following @OAUpeeps and tagging us in your #ReOpenOAU tweets.


Association Of Campus Journalists' Open Letter On #ReOpenOAU

AN OPEN LETTER
We write to inform you of the current shut down of Obafemi Awolowo University located in Ile-Ife,Osun State Nigeria.

Obafemi Awolowo University was shut down on 22nd day of June, 2016, two days before the Varsity was meant to resume for her 2015/16 session.

It is with Great concern that we write this letter not just because of the current closure but also because of other issues that have remained unsolved over the years.

In Obafemi Awolowo University, Students are always at the receiving end of constant crisis that has always threatened their future.

This current shut down can be traced to alleged illegality in Appointing a Vice Chancellor for the institution and the over 76months Allowance that the University is owing Non Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities which they have protested.

As Students we have endured the constant closure of our citadel which has caused Psychological trauma to us from time to time.

We have gone on strike every year in the last five years and this has led to untold hardship even on our parents who struggle to ensure we get qualitative Education.

Anomalies that have rocked our institution has made mockery of the Greatness of Obafemi Awolowo University which Students, strive to protect.

This closure is coupled with the current state of hostels in the University which has not received attention for years now even after Students protest and Campaign demanding for better welfare, some students have suffered victimization fighting for this cause but due to the undying love we have for the citadel even with the current state of welfare we have always defended the sanctity of the University with the best of our abilities as Students.

The current shut down has left many of our students abandoning Education due to situations beyond their control and even situations caused by idleness.

The Federal Government of Nigeria dissolved our University Governing Council and has failed to reconstitute another one, the same Federal Government failed to fast track appointment of an Acting Vice chancellor for the institution, not considering the fact that Obafemi Awolowo University Students have been at home for over 90days doing nothing.

Obafemi Awolowo University in its glorious days prides itself as the most productive University in Nigeria but when Students are not even allowed to graduate our productivity becomes questionable.

We find it important to write this because we are tired of been reduced to the streets due to constant closure of the University, whenever we attend a lecture we always have fears that the next day might come with no lecture because the school may have been shut suddenly.

We believe that if issues surrounding dilapidated structures,Workers welfare, Poor Hostels, Epidemic Calendar, Victimization of Students, appalling welfare are looked into, Students would not have to go home and abandon their Education involuntarily.

We have started a Social media Campaign to air our grievances, we have started trending the hashtag ReopenOAU but we believe that if Obafemi Awolowo University is managed very well, it has the potential to become one of the best around the globe.

We want to use this medium to ask that the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency constitute a New Governing Council for the institution and immediately appoint an Acting Vice Chancellor for the institution so that Students can resume.

Students have been at the receiving end of the mismanagement in Obafemi Awolowo University and we do not want to be used like slaves anymore,we are human too and we have a future to protect.

The Federal Government of Nigeria should also look into the administration of the University in the last five years, Students believe that the University was poorly managed and Students want the Federal Government to set up a panel to thoroughly investigate how OAU has been managed from 2011-2016.

We are in the month of July,2016 and we are yet to commence 2015/16 session, with the current conditions in the labor market, there are bracket and age limit to employment opportunities , and we are falling off the age bracket .

Our Students have lost out in internship programs and scholarships due to the constant shut down of the University.

Conclusively, we believe that Education with quality is our right, the Federal Government of Nigeria needs to always put future leaders first in their plans.We also want all quarters involved in affairs of the University to put Students interest at heart and ensure that they play their part without selfish motivations or individual glories.We are interested in making our citadel return back to its former glory.

Thank you.

Signed

Olanrewaju Oyedeji
ACJOAU President

Adebayo Faith
General Secretary

Abegunde Cephas
Public Relations Officer



http://www.oaupeeps.com/p/blog-page_3.html

#ReopenOAU: Analysing Objections



By Gracious Egedegbe
Friday, 08 July 2016, Ile Ife


Following an overstretched break ensued by the dissolution of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), resulting in a protracted and excruciating delay, OAU students recently launched a campaign tagged #ReOpenOAU. The #ReOpenOAU campaign has been on for three days with thousands of students, alumni, colleagues from other universities, stakeholders and sympathisers actively involved. The aim has to be flood the cyberspace with tweets, Facebook posts and pictures demanding that the school be reopened. Earlier, the Association of Campus Journalist (ACJ), who brought the initiative, announced that it would broaden the demands to include Constitution of a new governing council. Appointment of an acting VC, and a Probe into the affairs of the university in the last five years and monitor activities thereafter.

However, this campaign has come under heavy criticism from different quarters, the most pronounced coming from those who call themselves ideologists. They have expressed different reasons for their disapproval. One of them is that the hashtag, the cynosure of the campaign, should read #OAUdemandsanActingVC amongst other alternatives. They also allege that ACJ executives, who pioneered the campaign and are currently coordinating it, are not being sincere in the campaign. They insinuate that the executives are being bought over to cooperate with the selfish interests of other parties.

At this point one must examine how valid these objections are.

The hashtag #ReOpenOAU is both brief and effective. It adequately sums up the demands of OAU students. Furthermore, it is clear to the discerning that reopening the school will involve the constitution of a new governing council and appointment of a VC, even if temporarily. Besides, the hashtag is employed for the sake of simplicity and uniformity. Participants are allowed to inject their views, experiences and solutions in addition to the hashtag.

The allegation against ACJ executives has been described as an unfounded speculation and a malicious rumour with a view to distract the coordinators and destabilise the campaign. The allegation was disparaged due to the reputable characters of the executive, proven over a long period. That the allegation is based on a phone call construed to have come from a party with a political interest has further reduced its credibility.

It would seem to all appearances that these sets of persons, referred to as ideologists are irked by the fact that they are not privy to the coordination of the campaign. Extending this argument, they fear that ACJ has reduced their relevance in the OAU polity. They label the campaign as attention seeking on the part of ACJ and other bodies actively taking part in it. As such, they think that by raising a dissenting call, they might accrue to themselves some needed attention. This is both immature and unbecoming of any student of OAU.

There is the alternative narrative that these persons want an encompassing organisation of the campaign. They want the campaign to be opened to all in planning and actualization.

Their position might be understood in the sense that they feel the coordination is not encompassing and managed by an elitist few. However, they must also understand that there are avenues to air their grievances and offer opinions and recommendations. For effective coordination, it is best that there are a set of people accountable rather than allow for a jumbled organisation and resulting ineffectiveness. The crux is that they cannot always expect their recommendations will be acted upon.

On the allegations, it could also be that these sets of people are innocent in character and really have the interest of OAU students at heart. If that is so, they should be thorough with their investigations before attempting to disrupt what has been a great advantage to the OAU cause. Furthermore, they should learn to accept in good faith, whatever policies are enacted. While they are entitled to their personal opinions and actions, they should not express such in a way that would kill the campaign or at best, weaken it. Finally, they should know that not all of their suggestions will be accepted and know when to withdraw their agitations.


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Friday, 8 July 2016

OAU VC Court Case Postponed Till October 5th



The ongoing court case on the ongoing legality of the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University has been once again postponed till October 5th, 2016.

More details to come later