Last week, we focused on the issues which surround the appointments of Vice Chancellors in our universities. Among other things, we dwelt on the primordial dynamics which go into this exercise. Since then and Newswise, what we have on our hands is really a running story with no definitive end. The University of Ibadan, after some confusion as regards the way forward, the Acting Vice Chancellor was re-elected by the Senate for another 6 months. The implication is that probably for the first time in the history of that University, an acting Vice Chancellor would have been in place for one year, courtesy of a botched process which went into the appointment of a Vice Chancellor.
This has dire consequences, if only because, an acting position remains just that. In other words, no long term planning can take place. The holder of the post knows full well that he is a mere temporary custodian of a position that is waiting for its substantive holder. It is sad. This is because in the light of the reasons adduced earlier, the health of a University like UI, also speaks clearly to the State of our nation.
Cabals have been formed and in such close circuits, nothing will be said about teaching, research and public service
In other climes what is being said here has been fully grasped as regards the linkage between a national institution and the health of its polity. One can only hope here that ultimately all the gladiators in this process will learn to comport themselves, such that at the end of the day, a substantive VC will be put in place. For the sake of everybody, our beloved UI must regain its place in our national life. Luckily the University has a healthy alumni base that can make things happen. This is the time for them to intervene robustly on this issue with a view to ensuring that the institution puts this situation permanently in the shade. As a leader in its own right, UI is something of a pace setter that should live up to that appellation. Indeed, as the crisis festers, chances are that the fondest ideals of academia are likely to take a back seat. Cabals have been formed and in such close circuits, nothing will be said about teaching, research and public service. Ultimately, this is a drag on our national life.
From much of the foregoing, it is clear that barring any other unforeseen situation, chances are that the UI will soon get out of this hell-hole. Unfortunately, one cannot say the same thing for LASU. The situation is so protracted that till date, various recommendations have been made to the visitor of the university. But in the light of intrigues and counter intrigues, no successor to Fagbohun has been named yet. And as if to worsen matters, some groups have since emerged to demand that a Lagosian should be appointed as the next Vice Chancellor of the institution.
Pity. Again, where do we really go from here. As I ruminate over this particular low in LASU, I am reminded again of what a university should be: the city in the universe or the universe in the city. So at the end of the day, LASU like UI is undergoing some reductionism in the typical Nigerian spirit. Those Lagosians probably mean well. But unknown to them the concept of Lagosian is in itself malleable, so malleable that a Lagosian as defined has to contend with some settlers who have been here for the last one hundred years. Such indeed is the slippery world of identity politics.
At this point in time, I remember when the university was midwifed into existence. The pioneer VC was from Ogun State and in his own way, he did a good job. The next one was from Oyo State and she also acquitted herself honourably. The next one, a Medical Scientist died in harness and also took LASU to another level. So the cry now is for a son of the soil to hold the fort. As far as I am concerned, such should not be. As things stand, there seems to be no end in sight to what is happening in LASU. In the bid to unravel the puzzle, a Visitation Panel was set up to examine how the Governing Council did its job. The panel has since submitted its report and the government’s action has spawned a number of casualties. First to go was the Governing Council, which has been dissolved. The registrar has also been sent on leave on the grounds, real or imagined that he did not guide the Council properly.
Meanwhile, it was also directed that the Senate members who took part in the previous exercise should not participate in the processes in future. In my own opinion, there is enough blame to go round. Even the Governor himself cannot be absolved from the mess. How can one explain the fact that on two different occasions, he was presented with two lists from which he was required to make a choice. But he did not. Rather, he cited reasons to the effect that petitions trailed the processes and as such he stayed his hand. The point to note here is this, whoever is ultimately chosen by the Governor will attract petitions. So, the Governor should not delude himself into thinking that his eventual choice will guarantee the much needed peace in LASU. Indeed, he is even being accused of playing out a script in which a preferred candidate in the shadows. And as the reasoning goes, this is why a new Vice Chancellor is yet to be appointed. Chances are that this charge of complicity is not true. But then that is the price of leadership.
It is such a burden which must have impelled the Chairman of the dissolved Council to put out a half-page advertisement on this issue. Predictably, he tried to defend the integrity of the dissolved Council. Tellingly, he revealed that video and audio recordings of the entire exercise were made available to the Governor. As laudable as this may sound, what it clearly indicates is that trust has broken down between the Council on the one hand and the Lagos State Government on the other.
Whereas and ideally, an honour system should govern matters like this. But the situation was not always like this. In those days, the desperation which went into the appointment of Vice Chancellors was not there. Perhaps the only exception was the case of the University of Lagos, where in the first Republic there was a tussle between Saburi Biobaku and Eni Njoku. It looks as if we are back to those inglorious days.
Taken together, we should learn something from this advertisement for a Vice Chancellor’s position in the University of Rwanda. Among other things, the stipulation was that candidates can come from any part of the world. This I believe is the kind of ideal that we should strive for in this cleavage-ridden country of ours. Otherwise, the successors of Chukwuemeka Ike will have more materials to work on. And this can only mean that our nightmare will continue to deepen. And the gods will remain unclothed.
Prof. Soremekun, immediate past Vice Chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, is the editorial board chairman of BusinessDay
