Students of Orlu extraction under the aegis of Federation of Orlu Students Imo State have decried a recent newspaper publication titled “Prof. Awuzie joins the looting team” and stated that “Professor Awuzie is a man with a clout, integrity, and pedigree” that he cannot descend so low to diminish his image as a reputable union leader and revered scholar without blemish, for filthy material acquisitions.
In a release issued in Owerri early in the week and signed by Mr. Stanley Okafor, chairman, and Chibueze Nnadi, secretary, the students stipulated that the student body and respected lecturers in the Imo State University could not believe or come to terms with the fact that their boss who has over the years fought against corruption and Justice could descend so low as was published and stated that it was unfounded and untrue, arguing that Professor would never be involved in any fraud or scandal and will not attempt same.
The release contended that those were things that the University Vice- Chancellor has fought against over some years and cannot change at this time adding that any other person in his office or his assistant could succumb or yield to such temptations of looting public funds but surely not Professor Awuzie himself, a man of reputable honour.
The release stated further that all the allegations in the said publication against the man were fabricated and unfounded, declaring that Professor Awuzie had heeded the advice of the Orlu students on assumption of office that he should not allow the corruption in Okorocha’s government to becloud his integrity nor the exalted office of the Vice Chancellor corrupt him.
The students stipulated that if there was anything they could hold against their kinsman, it would be his inability to create jobs for Orlu people in his tenure as has been the case with his predecessors who used their tenure to empower youths of their own zones and favour the people.
Finally, they condemned the publication which they claimed tend to portray the personality of Professor Awuzie in bad light and called on the public to disregard the said publication.
It will be recalled that the Community Watchdog had in a recent publication reported that the former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) got involved in a number of suspected shoddy deals which tends to put his self acclaimed integrity to question.
He was accused among others of having acquired a duplex at Graceland Estate which he refurbished and leased to the university on proxy while he also collects his allowance and that he built another duplex at Egbeda which he allegedly donated to his son as a wedding gift. Community Watchdog has so far stood by the report as neither Awuzie nor the university authority has debunked the allegation whereby justifying the said publication as true.
