Chancellor intervenes in ABU VC crisis

The Obi of Onitsha and Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has intervened in the apparent crisis at the institution over the selection procedure for a new vice chancellor.

The chancellor urged the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) to take urgent steps to resolve the impasse.

Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the monarch made the request in a letter to the Executive Secretary, National Universities

Commission (NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed, where he said the impasse was already common knowledge and could seriously dislocate the peaceful working of the university.

Obi Achebe said with the interview of candidates already scheduled for January 21 and 22 and a Governing Council meeting for January 23 for a final decision, it became imperative to act immediately.

“If the Hon. Minister is satisfied that the Governing Council is unable as a body to peacefully and harmoniously complete this important assignment in the life of any university, it would be very prudent to urgently set up an independent body under the ministry/NUC to complete the selection of the new vice-chancellor,” he said.

Meanwhile, the management of the university has suspended the selection of a new vice-chancellor due to what it described as “tension and security risk to the university arising from widespread allegations of breach of due process.”

A letter to the Registrar of the institution, Malam Abdullahi Ahmed Kundila by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Garba, directed the suspension of the interview process.