Following the crisis rocking the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), which has held the educational pursuit of so many youths at the institution to ransom, youths across the country yesterday called for the termination of the appointment of the supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, alleging that his interference had instigated the lingering crisis at the university.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Wing chapter of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), at the weekend, called for the removal of who Wike in a statement issued by its leader, Mr. Felix Nwogbuagu, on behalf of the group’s leadership, said the action of the minister needed to be called to question.
According to him, “It should be recalled that on December 17, 2013, eve of the re-opening of public the owned universities in Nigeria, which were on strike for six months, an unfathomable impunity was committed by the minister for education Mr. Nyesom Wike when he unilaterally suspended and removed the Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the UNN 14th Governing Council Dr. Emeka, Enejere and replaced him with his (Wike’s) mentor and former employer, Mr. Emeka Ukala (SAN). Every attempt by various UNN stakeholders and other well meaning Nigerians to call this rampaging minister has come to naught.”
Lamenting the state of the university, Nwogbuagu said: “It is a common knowledge that the looting and unconstitutional patronages been committed by the Bartho Okolo’s administration has gotten to a height that must attract the interest of the government, and that was what the Enejere administration was poised to do before the vice-chancellor in connivance with some key elements in power decided to shove him aside and block an impending tsunami that would have exposed the maladministration that has bedevilled the university since POkolo became the vice-chancellor.”
Nwogbuagu further added that the future of the youths is being jeopardised by the whole feud.
“We are not here for long talks; we are here to ask for a stop of illegality, and shameful looting of public funds as we presently see in UNN. We call for a return to the status quo ante by the re-instatement of Enejere and a probe of the administration of Prof Bartho Okolo,” he said.
Youths were seen holding a peaceful protest at the liaison office in Abuja, where it was believed that the governing council, of the university were holding a closed door meeting, Nwogbuagu said: “The meeting held inside there is illegal, you cannot be having problem at Nsukka and be in Abuja more than 700 windows away from the people to hold meetings, can you hold the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in New York, it’s a kangaroo meeting and we the people are saying no to it.
“UNN has a pride of place in this country, it is the premier independent university in this country has a place in the heart of every Nigerian and any Igbo man and being young Igbo people we are saying no to this injustice. It is the intellectual hub of the Igbo nation, it is the fountain that holds the Igbo field of intellectualism so it must be protected. the recent happenings calls for great concern and sanity to be restored.
“Anything short of these will amount to a slap on the Igbo nation and affliction to Hon. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the founding fathers who are weeping in their graves over the present state of their beloved citadel.”
Efforts to reach the authorities at the liaison office at No 20 Agades Street Wuse11 Abuja, proved abortive as Mohammed Siddi, the head of security, denied journalist entrance to the building as instructed by his superiors, who according to him had been in closed doors for hours.