USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] OF National Heroes and PHD BellyAchers--IF NOT BOLAJI ALUKO FOR THIS APPOINTMENT WHO ELSE??

Kassim,

Thanks for that very impressive analysis.

I'm puzzled,though,  by your describing the endowment as 4 billion in one place and in another as 30 billion.

You also seemed to suggest that the VCs salary would not be taxed.

On the variety of responses,  I dont know Aluko's record on Igbo issues but what do you think of the criticism of  of him as being anti-Igbo ? What about the views of those who argue for the challenge to his  integrity on this  issue? 

thanks

toyin

thanks#touyin

On 14 February 2011 21:24, <OlaKassimMD@aol.com> wrote:

 

 Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 3:54 pm
Subject: OF National Heroes and PHD BellyAchers--IF NOT BOLAJI ALUKO FOR THIS APPOINTMENT WHO ELSE??

 

 

Dear Tony:

 

In an earlier commentary on this issue, I likened Bolaji Aluko's well deserved appointment as Founding VC

of the Federal University, Otueke, Bayelsa State to an onerous task which demands tremendous

sacrifice from whomever is chosen to head anyone of Nigeria's nine brand new universities.

I could not help but suggest then that Bolaji Aluko was about to embark on Advanced National Youth Service

Corp (NYSC) Part 2. Tha amount of sacrifice that would be required of Bolaji Aluko and his colleagues for the next 5 years is of the order of a thousand fold of what we all experienced during the NYSC program.

 

The question should not be about why Bolaji Aluko was appointed as the founding VC of FU, Otueke

but about why he accepted such an onerous responsibility considering the adverse work and political climate

in Nigeria.

 

In assessing  why Bolaji Aluko decided to accept this position, I came up with the following

plausible reasons--the Enablers

 

ENABLERS:

 

a) after several decades spent in academia abroad--during which he rose to become a full Professor and the Head of Department

of Chemical Engineering, accepting the position of the Founding VC of Federaal University in Nigeria would seem like a crowning glory to his academic achievements.

 

b) through the acceptance of this appointment Bolaji Aluko has demonstrated that his vaunted interest in and perennial data number crunching on Nigerian'issues including the educational sector is not just about talk. He is ready to walk the talk.

 

c) he has been fully engaged with the workings and the personalities of the NUC (Nigerian Universities Commission)

for decades and has participated in developing programs which were aimed at annexing the contributions

of Nigerian academics in the Diaspora to bolster the standard of education in Nigeria. Unfortunately, with the

single exception of the Nelson Mandela Mathematical Institute none of these initiatives came to fruition either due to logistical reasons or for simple lack of funds.

 

d) the VC position is at the nadir of an academic's administrative accomplishments as it combines the deployment of managerial skills with the development and fostering of academic excellence in all faculties and departments in which the new university would offer its students.

 

e) even more challenging but equally more rewarding is to be charged with the responsibility of nurturing a brand new university right from conception to its birth, and through the neonatal period all within 6 months time frame and on a trajectory towards a full fledged university --a never ending task that will definitely not be completed by the time his tenure expires in five years.

 

f) availability of funding for both capital projects and for recurrent expenditures such as would be required to cover the salaries and wages of academic and administrative staff as well as other employees of the new institution.

 

g) local support--

 -----1)goodwill

------2) financial

as we were informed a few days ago--the local community (? with the help of the Bayelsa state government) has already

raised and committed the sum of 3 billion Naira (approx. US $20 Million) and that the federal government will top this up by an additional

1 billion Naira (approx.US$ 6.666 Million).

      3) land--the state government has earmarked 15 hectares for the development of the main campus of the university.

 

 

Counterbalancing the above enablers are also many constraints that an appointee must also consider before accepting or declining

the appointment. There is no doubt that Bolaji had the time to weigh the enablers and the constraints and that after discussing the issues

with his wife and children he decided that the former outweigh the latter.

 

For the purpose of this exercise, I consider it necessary despite being a moot point to enumerate the constraints

he would be facing in this position:

 

CONSTRAINTS:

 

1) the need to manage expectations--Rome was not built in a day --and be able to communicate the

salient fact that not all qualified indigenous and non indigenous candidates for all available jobs from the menial

to the  higher hierarchies of academia and administrative can be employed by the new university.

 

2) the lack of commitment to on time execution of projects already approved for funding by the FGN --as there will always be bureaucratic log jams--the kind that are outside of the control of the VC. Let us hope and pray

that Bolaji Aluko will be steadfast and refuse to succumb to the habit of having to bribe civil servants and law makers so they could faciliate the release of funds that have already been approved for the new university.

 

3) managing the indigene-non-indigene dichotomy--relating to employment opportunities in the new university. For example

are federal government funded educational institutions required to put in place an indigene first employment protocol in all hirings?

 

4) adjustment to the level of remuneration from the USA to the Nigerian environment--which will be partly ameliorated by the

lower cost of living in Nigeria and the perks that go with the office of being the VC e.g. official residence, official cars with drivers,

house help etc. I do not know the salary scale of a VC in Nigeria--but I doubt if it would come close to that of the Chief Justice or Justice

of the Supreme court of Nigeria--recently reported at between 3 and 3.6 million Naira per annum or $24,000.00 US dollars--($2,000.00) per month

as opposed to the salary of a tenured full professor in the USA who might be earning between US$200,000 and US$225,000.00 before taxes.

Regardless of the exact amount of compensation in Nigeria, Bolaji Aluko and Dr Okogba will be taking a huge financial hit--a major loss of income--which will only be partly ameliorated by the fact that they do not have to pay the attendant taxes and the cost of living is lower in Nigeria.

 

Bolaji Aluko is well placed at this stage of his career to make this kind of sacrifice on behalf of his motherland Nigeria--considering he cannot ask to be paid in dollars (as he was a vociferous opponent of the dollar salaries that were being paid to Dr Okonjo Iweala and Ambassador Adeniji in 2004)

through a program that was partially funded by the UNDP during the OBJ regime. Considering that by now the mortgage is fully paid off and the children have all but concluded their college education, Bolaji Aluko is definitely well placed to adjust to the considerable loss of income from Howard University. As a tenured professor, he also has probably built up a good pension base that would supplement his meagre income as VC in Nigeria. Alternately, he could still retain a part time faculty position at Howard considering he is well respected at this institution by his colleagues, The reason for the preceding financial analysis is to highlight the amount of financial sacrifice one must make to take a position in Nigeria and to state that not every Diaspora Nigerian academic, however brilliant and committed is well suited to make this sacrifice. It all depends on the an individual's financial status, career stage as well as family preferences.

 

5) The initial bid to add an additional runway for the Abuja Airport submitted by Julius Berger Ltd and approved by the UMYA government was 72 billion Naira. They finally settled for about 55 billion Naira  after a lot of hue and cry. If it costs 55 billion to add an additional runway to the an existing airport--how much of infrastructure e.g  buildings, roads, sewage etc could a total sum of 4 billion Naira ($US26.66 million) provide for brand new university starting off temporarily in an existing facility of a technical College (which must be upgraded) and at the permanent site

of the Federal University in Otueke.

On the other one hand a sum of 30 billion Naira might seem to be a huge amount. An average building for a faculty including lecture rooms, offices for the academic and administrative staff as well as laboratories and campus dormitories might cost at today's prices--about 60 million Naira each. By my own calculation the sum of of 30 billion Naira will only provide about 50 major buildings

not accounting for the network of roads and other subterranean infrastructures e.g. sewage, fibre optic cables etc. To make matters worse,

it would appear that the available endowment sum of 30 billion Naira is a one time commitment. Once spent it is gone. Where will the funds  to maintain the new buildings and construct additional ones in the future come from considering that the new universities will also face the same funding constraints that have paralysed the older universities.

 

In summary, I believe strongly that Professor Bolaji Aluko and Professor Geoff. Okogba must be commended for having the courage and the selfless spirit which compelled them to accept the onerous responsibilities that have landed on their laps at this stage of their illustrious careers. They will both be walking the talk. They deserve our prayers and support!

 

For those wondering about looting let me state clearly that by the time all the expenditures are accounted for, the politicians in Abuja would have ensured

that there isn't much left to be looted in all other federally funded programmes including tertiary education and teaching hospitals. There isn't much left after the executive and legislative assemblies have finished allocating 80% of the revenues to cover their own expenses.

 

Let the Pull Him Down Syndrome sufferers and the jealous Bellyachers sheathe their swords!

 

I salute Profs. Bolaji Aluko and Geoff Okogba. You are both national heroes--who will undoubtedly prove that the Adeniji's, Okonjo-Iweala's Oby-Ezekwesili'e and others are not simply just one time wonders.

The Diaspora can indeed make a positive difference in the lives of ordinary Nigerians and contribute tremensously to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. Dalu! !

 

Bye,

 

Ola

 

 

---- Original Message ----
From: tony egbe <tegbe2003@yahoo.com>
To: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com; '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>; IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com; IgboWorld Forum IgboWorld Forum <IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; WorldIgboforum WorldIgboforum <worldigboforum@yahoogroups.com>; Igboorgnyforum Igboorgnyforum <igboorgnyforum@yahoogroups.com>; Naijapolitics Naijapolitics <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com>; IgboOrgNYForum@yahoogroups.com; NIDO-USA NIDO-USA <NIDO-USA@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: 'Chukwuma Agwunobi' <agwu22@yahoo.com>; 'collyezebuihe' <Collyezebuihe@hotmail.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>
Sent: Mon, Feb 14, 2011 1:54 pm
Subject: IF NOT BOLAJI ALUKO FOR THIS APPOINTMENT WHO ELSE??

NIGERIANS,   Out of  INTRINSIC ADMIRATION, tinted with ENVY & JEALOUSY, the good looking child will be asked to go and have a Clean bath so that he/she will be good enough to be seen in public. All these Noise Makers know very well that they Cannot have Bolaji's Background and Training, even if given another Life Time, hence the innuendos going on over this Well Earned Appointment.   If NOT Prof. Bolaji Aluko, who else from all ye Pull Him Down Bunch? Most of you, who are Pulling Down this Appointment, are YOU Qualifed or More Qualified than Prof. Aluko for this Job? What a bunch of Uneducated Minds!! This kind of Thought Process, is Very Typical of the Uneducated Minds, who are filled with Envy and Jealousy, period!!   If you were more qualified, and given the chance, you will NOT look back before you Jump into it. Knowing your inadequacy, YOU rather Pull Down the Appointed and the Appointement Down!! Some of us know YOU better!! KWEPURU OBU NNU, KA OBURU NNU YA JEBE [Give Praise, where it is Naturally due]. This is Divine!! Otoiheoma Egbe.     --- On Sun, 2/13/11, Ken Okey <uniqueken@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Ken Okey <uniqueken@yahoo.com> Subject: [IgboOrgNY Forum] Re: PROOF ON HOW BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED To: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com, "'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>, IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com, "IgboWorld Forum IgboWorld Forum" <IgboWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>, "WorldIgboforum WorldIgboforum" <worldigboforum@yahoogroups.com>, "Igboorgnyforum Igboorgnyforum" <igboorgnyforum@yahoogroups.com>, "Naijapolitics Naijapolitics" <NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com> 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: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 11:48 AM   Gregg,   I don't know why you are this way, I know that it is impossible for people to be made this way rather it is people that mould themselves this way. The reason why I said that it will be impossible for people to be made this way is because the creator of human-being (Jesus Christ) said He detest this kind of character as yours, lukewarm characters that are always in the middle, neither hot nor cold, that never take a solid stand with a particular camp and this is you in crystal display.   Several months ago when there was discussion about how impossible it is or it wil continue to be for the Christians and people of other faith and Muslims to live together as one people of one country, in an effort to be seeing as a raw and crude Nigerian with no rival you came dancing awkwardly in the forum telling us that NdiIgbo and Ndi Hausa has been chugging along fine and will continue to chug along fine irrespective.   I could not understand the madness embedded in the statement thus I asked you to clarify what you meant by "chugging along fine" even with the flood of Igbo blood all around the north from time immemorial till today. You went ahead to entertain your self a little bit more in your awkward dance expertise before you finally veered off and disappeared like a seasoned chameleon.   Soon after you changed and started chorusing somewhat that Nigeria is unworkable between the Christian east and Muslim north and as soon as it seems that people's attention were off the discussion you put on your hypocritical garb and started your appeasing dance to the Islamic north which culminated in your hypocritical call and blame on Zubbie Ekwueme for jeopardizing the lives of Igbo because he is posting truths that has already been on the internet about Islam.   Following that was your statement that the American government should not mistreat the Muslims or do anything that will tend to look as if they are been treated differently, rather that they should be given the equal right and freedom as every other American even when 9/11 was staring us in the face and numerous murderous activities of the Muslims in USA including the attempted bombing of American airplane on USA soil on the 25th day of December by no other but a northern Nigerian Muslim.   Your double standard attitude did not allow you to also call on American Muslims to also not treat people of other faith differently as in the way of destroying lives.   While you were saying this a USA Muslim soldier went on rampage to kill 13 of his colleagues for no other reason than that he was angry that USA went to war in Iraq, that Islam seem to be at the receiving end thus he must kill Christians or people of other faith in retaliation to defend Islam and its god. Equally I asked you what you meant by such idiotic suggestion and posit which resulted in your recoiling into your lukewarm shelf.   There is no other thing that drives you into this sort of dangerous lukewarm living if not for people of all camp to see you as detribalized and all-season friendly man but little did it occur to you that you are messing up yourself and what makes you a man because men that are men always take a stand on issues no matter the consequence.   They take their stand and face whatever consequence thereof, that is why they are men but the man in him died who can't take a solid stand on issues rather always limping between camps in an effort to please all.   Take the issue of the current election imbroglio in Nigeria, I never read you taking a solid stand on any issue thereof or about a particular candidate rather you hobnob between Buhari's camp and President Jonathan's camp and other candidates camp without clearly taking a stand.   To you Buhari did nothing wrong, President Jonathan did nothing wrong, Ribadu did nothing wrong either nor any of the candidates, all are clearly elect-able in your own reckoning but the issue is that the man with such opinion does not have opinion at all, what he is doing is simply please all to deceive all that he is in all their camps.   Now read yourself calling on those writing about and against Bolaji Aluko to get off him and you went ahead to ask them to polish their shoes well, dress well and approach Bolaji for job offer instead of attacking him. Gregg you are a man-pleaser, first class eye-service pretender and also first class hypocrite to say the least. You are saying this to look nice in Bolaji's book but you never commented on the issues raised by those attacking him.   You never questioned if he did those things he is accused of, you never questioned if he truly hate the Igbo as he is accused of doing, you never questioned if he equally attacked and rubbished those appointed before him the same way he is being attacked now.   There is a statement, "What you use to measure others is what will be used to measure you" and the statement originated from the bible, we equally have the word, "boomerang" and most of the time when it is used people are cautioned to beware of boomerang effect of their actions.   Hear the bible:   "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" Matthew 7:2   An honest individual who want to play the role of a sincere arbiter will call out the misdeeds of Bolaji then turn around to plead with people to lay off him as Christians tend to do by not revenging or paying back with ones own coin. But to ignore and never mention all that Bolaji did means you are just a pretentious hypocrite who want to look nice in Bolaji's face and book.   You are here in the forum when Bolaji was trouncing Soludo, Akunyili, Iweala, Iwu, Ojo Maduekwe and Ezekwesili et al on almost weekly or monthly basis on how they are not qualified for their positions to the point of calling on them to resign or calling that they be relieved of the job and be replaced, he did not lay off them until they were replaced or their terms elapsed and that was when he rested and never attacked those that replaced them.   Now he is appointed a VC and the cause effect or boomerang effect of his actions came banging at his door and all you can say is to ask people to lay off him and as if that is not enough you shamelessly open your mouth to say that his appointment has generated lots of attack on him, just a few days attack but the several years of continuous attacked he engaged against the aforementioned happened when you were attending the board of trustees meeting of raw chameleons thus you were not able to read or aware of it.   Some Igbo are just disgrace personified and in the mold of the silly Igbo chap that went on all four at the N/A begging the northerners to allow NdiIgbo a shot at the presidency. What an irony in a country one calls his own at least for now!   In your mind you may think I hate you but you are deadly wrong because I do not hate you one bit, I just detest what you do and my saying and talking about it often is perhaps a change can be effected for the good of Igbo. Bolaji Aluko will not do as you are doing, I have read him several times and found out that he will never hesitate to say what he wants to say and if someone is being attacked as it is been done against him now, he will not take the position you took, he surely will comment on the points raised against the person first before he either mounts a defense or join others to continue the nailing.   You think people are not taking notes in the forum, it is getting to a point that your thoughts on issues will not be taken serious because you mostly only proffer opinion or suggestion or make an input to appease people and not necessarily that you want to offer some educative opinions or self convinced suggestion.   I'm sorry but right now you are one of the greatest clown in the forum and I'm daring you to take off that hypocritical and please-all garb, put on a manly apparel and stand issues eyeball to eyeball and offer a solid opinion which when seen everybody will know your stand and in whose camp you are, as such you will also be ready as man to bear the consequence of your solid decision for that makes a man.   After all the bible said that man is born into trouble and that all his days are full of trouble, so bros stop running away from trouble by trying to belong to every camp thus be seen as Mr. Nice chap all the time. If you see someone doing something that is not right, there is no reason dancing awkwardly around the issue but to tell the person and I assure you the person will appreciate it more than your act of elevated clowning.   As for Tony Egbe I take it that the jolly fella is just spending his retirement years in the forum with enormous time on his hand thus have to comment most of the times without even thinking about what he is saying and his mentioning of jealousy is definitely one of those comments of his without reasoning. If not I would have asked him if it was also jealousy and envy that made Bolaji Aluko to be commenting and attacking the aforementioned Igbo during OBJ leadership when they were offered jobs and positions, why was it that Tony's boundless retirement time did not allow him to tell Bolaji as such.   Tony Egbe is simply a basket case.   Ken.   "Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift: Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him"           If you are a believer in God and Jesus Christ you will discover that: "Every Unpleasant Circumstance got the Seed of an Equivalent Benefit" for  "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God"Romans 8:28           --- On Sat, 2/12/11, Ukaegbu <gukaegbu@comcast.net> wrote: From: Ukaegbu <gukaegbu@comcast.net> Subject: [IgboEvents:Live] RE: [IGBO_FORUM] PROOF ON HOW BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED To: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com, "'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, 6:58 PM   Folks, I think people should lay off Bolaji.  I haven't seen an appointment that caused some people as much heartache as this one.  I wonder why.  Instead of trying to lampoon him before starts, if you think you have the qualifications and knowledge that you can impart on students, here is your opportunity.  Put your resume in Bolaji's hands.  Join him in making the new University the best around.  If a bunch of guys from here join him in creating an exemplary academic culture in that University, that can spread around other universities and start the change we have been looking for.  Imagine what will happen if the university starts turning out erudite young men and women, Nigeria will be better for it.  So, two days of shouting against the guy's appointment is enough.  I think he will set a good example with the school, if not he wouldn't have accepted the offer.  Before you start smacking me left and right, I have never seen Bolaji and he has never seen me.  But a guy should not be denied his truth, that's one of my guiding principles.  I encourage everyone to drop the negative messages.  Here is an opportunity for all of you who can teach or perform some administrative function in a university environment.  Polish your resume, shine your shoes, and go see the guy.  He ain't no ordinary guy no more, he is now a big time decider.                  *ezekwe*   From: igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:igbo_forum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of africa today Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2011 3:04 AM To: USAAfrica Dialogue; World Igbo Congress WIC; my brother; chatafrik@yahoogroups.com; chatafrik; ChatAfrikPublisher@msn.com; nigerdeltaforum@yahoogroups.com; Edo Global; Edwin Dyke Cc: Chukwuma Agwunobi; collyezebuihe; tegbe2003@yahoo.com; ogbuonyeiro@yahoo.com; Emmanuel U. Obi; Punch me I deck U; igbo events; ikeagbor@yahoo.com; afis; Oga Ade; san-val; Val Ojo; olakassimmd; usgemology; Emeka Okala; Vin otuonye; Vincent Modebelu; naijaintellects; Wharf Snake; femi awobusuyi Subject: [IGBO_FORUM] PROOF ON HOW BOLAJI ALUKO APPOINTMENT WAS NOT TRANSPARENT AND CORRUPTED     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   On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 6:49 PM, Bolaji <alukome@gmail.com> wrote:   Dear All: 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. And there you have it. Bolaji Aluko _____________________________________________________________________________________________ DAILY TRUST Nigeria: Work Commences on Lokoja Varsity Site Isiaka Wakili 10 February 2011 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 Nation No going back on Lokoja for new Federal varsity, says govt Font size: Yusuf Alli 07/02/2011 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."   _____________________________________________________________________________________________       THE NATION   Two dead in row over varsity location in Ekiti Font size: Our Reporter 11/02/2011 01:49:00   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.   ____________________________________________________________________________________________     Need Mail bonding? Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.

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