USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: NIDO-USA | PROOF ON HOW BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED
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For obvious reasons, Bolaji's appointment as the VC of the new Federal University in the President's home town of Otueke has generated its fair share of condemnation and congratulations .Given who and what the new VC is perceived to represent this should not come as a surprise to anybody..Professor Aluko has worked hard for it in many ways over the years and he deserves our congratulations, not our condemnation.
Those involved in this, from Prof Okogie, the ministers of education to the President who approved the recommendations should be commended. Bolaji's antecedents are no doubt well know and so is his positions on all national issues yet, they did not feel bothered but elected to put the fate of a new university in an obscure part of the country into his hands, the hands of a chronic activist, someone who could be described as anti government but openly works with government and government institutions.. This is why he needs more of our prayers, best wishes and advice if any.
For a start, as we have seen already, of the newly appointed VCs, his every move will be thoroughly watched and scrutinized. .He has been mandated to start the university in a village with no infrastructure to support a university .Rather than being allowed at least a year to plan and put in place a few buildings he is expected to open shop in August l think...Even after 35 years in Government l am constantly amazed at our dislike for systemic planning preferring, always to rush things..Still Prof Aluko is lucky as he has more than 3 billion Naire raised by the community recently plus an additional take off grant of one billion Naira from the Federal Government. So here is my unsolicited advice, indeed my plea with the activist and incoming VC
a)If you cannot find a temporal office accommodation in Yenegoa, start off in PH.. Avoid the practice
of spending so much ona temporal site
b)with almost N 5 billion Naira , you can commence the permanent site. Just get a good and credibly
company to design the plan of the institution and commence with the permanent structures
c)avoid spreading the University structures over a wide area and if possible build skyscrapers.
. Beyond conserving and protecting the environment, there is also the need to ensure that students do not walk long distances to attend lectures.
d) Make this University Diaspora driven, .recruit most of your professors and lecturers
from the Diaspora. There are many in the Diaspora crying for opportunities to come home and
serve .please, give them the chance.
Give the Diasporathe opportunity to demonstrate that they have all what it takes tochat a new direction for the country. There can be no better opportunity than this for the Diaspora Nigerians in various universities abroad. This is the chance to walk the walk and l hope Bolaji would extend both an invitation and hands of fellowship to those in a position to be of great assistance to him, the new university and the nation. Hopefully too, those to be invited would reciprocate in kind.
Mr VC, It's you call now, Good luck.
--- On Sat, 2/12/11, africa today <africatoday80@gmail.com> wrote:
From: africa today <africatoday80@gmail.com> Subject: NIDO-USA | PROOF ON HOW BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED To: "USAAfrica Dialogue" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>, "World Igbo Congress WIC" <WorldIgboCongress@yahoo.com>, "my brother" <talknigeria@yahoogroups.com>, chatafrik@yahoogroups.com, "chatafrik" <CHATAFRIK@msn.com>, ChatAfrikPublisher@msn.com, nigerdeltaforum@yahoogroups.com, "Edo Global" <edo_global@yahoogroups.com>, "Edwin Dyke" <lmed@sbcglobal.net> Cc: "Chukwuma Agwunobi" <agwu22@yahoo.com>, "collyezebuihe" <Collyezebuihe@hotmail.com>, tegbe2003@yahoo.com, ogbuonyeiro@yahoo.com, "Emmanuel U. Obi" <bizon586@yahoo.com>, "Punch me I deck U" <nigeria360@yahoogroups.com>, "igbo events" <igboevents@yahoogroups.com>, ikeagbor@yahoo.com, "afis" <odidere2001@yahoo.com>, "Oga Ade" <adeajayi@aol.com>, "san-val" <SAN-VAL@comcast.net>, "Val Ojo" <valojo@md.metrocast.net>, "olakassimmd" <olakassimmd@aol.com>, "usgemology" <usgemology@yahoo.com>, "Emeka Okala" <reukal@yahoo.co.uk>, "Vin otuonye" <vincentotuonye@msn.com>, "Vincent Modebelu" <vin_modebelu@yahoo.com>, "naijaintellects" <naijaintellects@googlegroups.com>, "Wharf Snake" <wharfsnake@yahoo.com>, "femi awobusuyi" <femi_awobusuyi@yahoo.com> Date: Saturday, February 12, 2011, 3:03 AM
PROOF THAT BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED. THE IS NO HOPE FOR NIGERIA
FOLKS,
PLEASE READ BELOW HOW BOLAJI ALUKO WAS APPOINTED VICE CHANCELLOR IN NIGERIAN NEW UNIVERSITY IN NIGERIA WITH NO OPEN ADVERTISEMENT, NO OPEN COMPETITION AND NO TRANSPARACNY. FOLKS HOW CAN NIGERIA AND OTUEKE UNIVERSITY REFLECT GOOD GOVERNANCE WHEN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING BOLAJI ALUKO AS THE VC IS FILLED WITH CORRUPTION AND NO DUE PROCESS LEAD BY THE GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE GOVERNOR FAYEMI, MINITER OF EDUCATION KENNETH GBAGI AND SECREATARY OF NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COMMISION SECRETARY OKOJIE AND FROM INFORMATION ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE STUDENTS, FAMILY FRIENDS, POLITICAL FRIENDS AND PERSONAL FRIENDS OF ALUKO FAMILY. FOLKS THE IS NO HOPE FOR NIGERIA. READ FOR YOUR SELF.
QUOTE BOLAJI ALUKO " Let me say here and now that my journey to Otueke started at Ikole. Without any warning, in early November, Governor Fayemi, in the company of Minister of State Kenneth Gbagi and NUC Secretary Okojie called to the US to ask me to consider becoming the VC of the Ekiti Federal University, that the Federal government was going to be announcing sites and Vice-Chancellors within a week or two. Taken aback, I said, "Haba...isn't this all too sudden?", whereupon he handed the phone right there and then to the Minister who said, "Abeg, come home...your friend here needs you to head the varsity". Within three days, after consulting with family and friends, I accepted, and sent my CV as requested. When I spoke to Prof. Okojie later, he said, "Come home, your friends needs you at the university." UNQUOTE BOLAJI ALUKO
My "euphoria" over appointment to Otueke Federal University (OFU, for now!) is tempered by this Ikole/Oye varsity relocation palava.
I want ALL people to read the three tracts far below concerning Ekiti State and nearby Kogi State. Read in particular the following three paragraphs:
QUOTE
"The NUC team, after a brief courtesy call on the (Kogi) governor, during which it disclosed the purpose of its visit, was conducted round different facilities and sites by Governor Ibrahim Idris and some members of his cabinet. "The governor disclosed that the Felele site is about 5,000 hectares of land. He further explained the rationale for siting the university in Lokoja, which he hinges on fairness, justice and the need for equitable distribution of Federal presence.The NUC team agreed with the state government and commended Governor Idris for his sense of fairness."
UNQUOTE
QUOTE
"Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Chief Sylvester Onoja on Monday said the state government had begun work on the site of the newly approved Federal University of Science and Technology, Lokoja."
UNQUOTE
QUOTE
The (Ekiti State) governor said Ikole remains the location of the university as announced by his administration last November, saying the purported announcement of Oye as the site of the university would not be allowed to stand. Fayemi said the latest crisis is not a fight between the two communities of Oye and Ikole.....Fayemi met with the leaders of the two communities who were led to his office by the caretaker chairmen of Oye council, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi and Ikole council, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae.
UNQUOTE
If the NUC and the Federal Government accepted the recommendations of the Governor of Kogi State, why is it refusing to accept the recommendations of the Governor of Ekiti State - and some Ekiti state indigenes are clapping?
*Has anybody asked what the NUC recommendation was to the Federal Government? I have: Ikole.
*Has anybody asked whether there has been any DEMONSTRABLE public lobbying by Oye for a site? The answer is NO.
*Has anybody come out PUBLICLY to state that it was HE whoPRIVATELY lobbied to put the university at Oye? Absolutely NO. Not even Ayo Arise, even though he is the prime suspect. One would hope that he comes out to deny same.
*Has anybody asked for the BASIS, the JUSTIFICATION for the relocation of the site from Ikole to Oye? I have read absolutely NONE.
*Has anybody seen the good people of Oye coming out on the streets playing bands and flutes that a university has been relocated to their town? NO. Why not, any reasonable person would ask?
If you don't like my answers to the above questions, please supply yours.
Moving on....
Let me say here and now that my journey to Otueke started at Ikole. Without any warning, in early November, Governor Fayemi, in the company of Minister of State Kenneth Gbagi and NUC Secretary Okojie called to the US to ask me to consider becoming the VC of the Ekiti Federal University, that the Federal government was going to be announcing sites and Vice-Chancellors within a week or two. Taken aback, I said, "Haba...isn't this all too sudden?", whereupon he handed the phone right there and then to the Minister who said, "Abeg, come home...your friend here needs you to head the varsity". Within three days, after consulting with family and friends, I accepted, and sent my CV as requested. When I spoke to Prof. Okojie later, he said, "Come home, your friends needs you at the university."
It was soon after those transactions that two things happened:
- we started to hear that the Ikole was being considered for move to Oye. Alarmed, we have pulling out stops to counter this unnecessary subterranean move, but apparently some nefarious activities prevailed, and we now have a sordid crisis in our hands where yesterday Oye was substantively announced.
- started to hear that VCs will not be located in the geopolitical zones of origin. Despite concerns that this was not a wise move, there was strong sentiment for this in Government circles. There was still some thinking that this might be reversed - until yesterday when I got a call from the NUC Secretary followed immediately by a call by the Madame Minister of Education stating that I was being assigned to Otueke, would I accept the honor of serving in the President's state and hometown, whereupon I accepted "lesekese". It was quite difficult not to accept when it was offered in that fashion; it would look crude otherwise. In any case, I am partially from Ijawland anyway, so where was the beef?
Moving on...
I have stated here before that based on the stated parameters of assigning new federal universities, Ekiti was eminently due for one, so that is NOT the controversy. But who best should decide WHERE that site should be but the EXECUTIVE leadership of the state, in the person of the Governor, on who CONSTITUTIONALLY all LAND in the state is vested? And if there are other people who have other ideas, they should come out BOLDLY to have alternative sites discussed IN THE OPEN, not stay in Abuja to undermine the authority of the Governor in order to place a university in their hometown and cause mayhem among nearby communities.
I am happy that today the Governor met both communities - Oye and Ikole - each led by their caretaker chairmen Ogungbuyi and Akin-Fasae respectively. All of us should not put more fuel to the fire, and should devise a plan in which no more deaths occur. Left to me, the university should stay in Ikole, period. Again, while I know that Oye will be happy to have it, I just don't see Oye people ANGLING for it as if their lives depended on it....and it would be unwise for them to do so now.
Lokoja — Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Chief Sylvester Onoja on Monday said the state government had begun work on the site of the newly approved Federal University of Science and Technology, Lokoja.
The commissioner, who spoke in Lokoja, said all arrangements had been concluded to ensure the smooth take-off of the institution at its temporary site, Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja.
He debunked insinuations that the school was not suitable for the take-off of a university, saying it successfully served the same purpose for the state polytechnic.
The commissioner said construction of projects such as security posts, entrance gates and the administrative block was to pave way for the commencement of the first academic session in September.
The Kogi State government yesterday said the National Universities Commission (NUC) has located a site for the new Federal University of Science and Technology in the state.
The state said the university would be sited in Felele quarters in Lokoja, which is the state capital.
The Director-General, Press Affairs to the Governor, Mr. Richard Elesho, made the clarification in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja.
The statement said Lokoja was chosen because Kogi West Senatorial District because it is the only part of the state without a Federal institution.
The statement said in part: "Contrary to rumours making the rounds and information being peddled in a section of the national media, the Federal Government has confirmed Felele, a suburb of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, as the permanent site for the new University of Science and Technology, recently located in the state by the Federal Government.
"This was disclosed by the Executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie.
"The NUC helmsman had led a team of experts from the Federal Ministry of Education to Kogi state on a fact-finding mission and assessment tour of possible sites and facilities for the new institution.
"The NUC team, after a brief courtesy call on the governor, during which it disclosed the purpose of its visit, was conducted round different facilities and sites by Governor Ibrahim Idris and some members of his cabinet.
"The governor disclosed that the Felele site is about 5,000 hectares of land. He further explained the rationale for siting the university in Lokoja, which he hinges on fairness, justice and the need for equitable distribution of Federal presence.
"Idris argued that the Eastern part of the state already has a Federal Polytechnic in Idah, a state University in Anyigba and a state college of education in Ankpa, while the Central has a Federal College of Education in Okene, and a campus of the State Polytechnic in Osara. The West on the other hand has a state College of Education in Kabba and a campus of the state polytechnic.
"This arrangement leaves only the West without a federal institution. He said since Lokoja is centrally located and being the first capital of colonial Nigeria , it is only fair, equitable and responsible to site the university in Lokoja, and West Senatorial District .
"The NUC team agreed with the state government and commended Governor Idris for his sense of fairness.
"The NUC Executive Secretary thanked the governor for his prompt response and promise to cooperate with the Federal authority on the university.
"He however urged the state government to intensify its search for an appropriate take off site for the school, advising that the temporary site must not exceed minimal and tolerable social dislocation of the immediate site.
"He urged the state government to come up with a detailed proposal on the temporary site within reasonable time to tidy up all the ends."
What started as a peaceful protest over the purported relocation of the new federal university in Ekiti State from Ikole to Oye, turned bloody after two of the protesters were shot dead.
The protest, which involved people of different ages in Ikole, started around 7:30 am. But the arrival of a detachment of policemen attached to the Swift Response Squad (SRS), charged the atmosphere. The policemen shot and killed two of the protesters at Iloka area of the town.
Following the killings, the protesters attacked and razed down the Idi-Ose police station. Two cars and three motorcycles parked within the premises were also destroyed and burnt.
The bodies of the deceased were allegedly taken away by the policemen, who retreated when the people confronted them. The protesters lit bonfire and blocked most parts of the town thereby preventing travellers to and from Abuja from driving through the town.
Governor Kayode Fayemi sued for peace and called on the people to remain calm. He described the announcement of Oye as the site of the new university as an attempt to undermine the authority of the state government.
Fayemi attributed the latest crisis to the subterranean moves of some politicians from the state who are using their political connection with President Goodluck Jonathan to throw the state into chaos ahead of the the general elections.
Fayemi urged Jonathan to respect the principles of federalism, due process and the rule of law. He described Ekiti as part of the Nigerian federation which should not be on fire because of the politics of the elections.
The governor said Ikole remains the location of the university as announced by his administration last November, saying the purported announcement of Oye as the site of the university would not be allowed to stand.
Fayemi said the latest crisis is not a fight between the two communities of Oye and Ikole.
The governor displayed expended live bullets used by riot policemen before reporters. He said they were brought to his attention by Ikole community leaders. He described the shooting of defenceless protesters as "unacceptable and unnecessary".
Fayemi met with the leaders of the two communities who were led to his office by the caretaker chairmen of Oye council, Mr. Akindele Ogungbuyi and Ikole council, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae.
"I have received no information on the relocation from the President, the Minister of Education, the Minister of State for Education. Whoever is purporting that the university has been moved from Ikole is only following the figment of his imagination.
"This is an attempt to undermine the authority of this state; the pronouncement had been made on the location by the state government long ago and if there will be any change, it will certainly come from Ekiti State government.
"It (the relocation) is null and void as far as we are concerned. This university is for our people and we must have a say on where it will be located and how it should be run. We shall not allow our people to be distracted.
"These elements are behind this because of their vanishing interests and whether they like it or not, they will be gone in April". The governor also appealed to the people of Ikole to be calm. He warned them against venting their anger against the regent of the town whom he said is not opposed to the university being sited in her domain.
Fayemi said he had been in touch with Jonathan adding that he was ready to visit Abuja to ensure that proper things were done to prevent the breakdown of law and order in the state.
The Ikole council boss Akin-Fasae said it was the rumour of the relocation that prompted the protest alleging that the policemen who fired the gunshots that killed the people came from outside his council area.
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