The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Benard Odoh, has described his purported sack by the Ministry of Education as the desperate handiwork of fifth columnists. He called on the Federal Ministry of Education not to resort to desperate measures that could set the institution on fire or attempt to usurp the powers of the courts, which are already handling multiple lawsuits on the matter.

Odoh made this known while reacting to a statement credited to the Federal Ministry of Education, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, and titled “Dissolution of Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.”

In a statement signed and issued to newsmen by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Charles Otu, the Vice-Chancellor described the letter purporting his sack and the dissolution of the governing council of the university as mischievous, strange, and a grievous attempt to destabilise the institution.

He raised five key questions regarding the intent and purpose of the Education Ministry’s actions, clarifying that the constitution of the university’s governing council and the appointment of the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor followed due process.

Odoh stated that the letter was contemptuous, considering that the subject matter is sub judice. He said, “Incidentally, the Ministry of Education is a party in Suit No: NICN/ABJ/383/2024 and Suit No: NICN/ABJ/372/2024, where the legality or otherwise of the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University by the Council was submitted to the National Industrial Court for determination. The court is yet to make a pronouncement.

“This notwithstanding, the Ministry of Education, without an iota of respect for the court, proceeded to pass its judgment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education is a defendant in the above suits with no counterclaim. This is unprecedented.”

The Vice-Chancellor posed the following: “Has there been any crisis, let alone a ‘breakdown of law and order’ in the institution since the inauguration of the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor?

“The simple answer is that the Awka temple of knowledge, like its sister campuses, has been calm and peaceful. The Vice-Chancellor has been discharging his duties effectively without rancour. It is even safe to conclude that the Ministry, ostensibly working for some fifth columnists, may want to ignite or spark a crisis with its highly dictatorial treatise.

“Again, for the second time in less than three weeks, the Ministry of Education violated the extant provisions of the University’s Act by announcing, for the second time, a purported removal from office of the seventh substantive Vice-Chancellor, which we still insist it has no powers to do, especially when parties are already in various courts of law.”

Odoh also pointed out flaws in the purported sack letter, stating, “Even the Council’s Chairman, who was duly appointed with a letter, has not been officially or formally communicated about this purported dissolution.

“The greatest question mark on the integrity of the purported letter is the fact that it did not emanate from the President or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, which issued the council members their appointment letters. Instead, it was strangely endorsed by a Public Relations Director, not even a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, perhaps on behalf of the Honourable Minister. This casts strong doubts on the genuineness and intent of the said letter.

“We wish to maintain that, since the parties remain in court, the issues should be expeditiously tested and established by the relevant provisions of our laws.”

He called on the general public, particularly members of the university community, to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses and urged them to maintain peace and order in the area.

The Sun Nigeria