Feelers filtering in from Government House Owerri, have it authoritatively that the embattled Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, (IMSU) Owerri, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie may return to his office any time from now. This according to impeccable sources close to the seat of power of Douglas House Owerri, is the culmination of high level horse trading and persuasions that suggest Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha must eat his words or that he has no option than to recapitulate once more, on this score.
When the entreaties, representations and appeals by Orlu leaders of thought met a brick wall and were unable to melt or thaw the ice, the lobbyists went headlong to confront the Ogboko born Governor using some technocrats some of who include Prof. Attahiru Jega, the immediate past INEC national Chairman and Governor Adams Oshiomohle of Edo State who as a foremost unionist was among those who supported the hard-line posturing of Awuzie during the more than 12 months ASUU strike that rubbished ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s educational policy, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie must however take credit for the creation of “TETFUND” and support for State Universities in the provision of Infrastructural facilities in Nigerians tertiary Institutions. But for the ASUU strike, State University would not have accessed considerable TETFUND attention and bail outs.
Following the stiff rejection of the manner Governor Okorocha adopted in relieving Awuzie of his duties with a military and dictatorial fiat, the duo of Oshiomohle and Attahiru Jega have successfully intervened having reached out and forced Okorocha to shift grounds. An evidence of the new found rapprochement between Awuzei and Okorocha is the visit last Wednesday July 1, 2015 to Governor Okorocha by the now humbled Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie. Community Watchdog was informed that though Prof. Awuzie arrived Government House in his official car, a Toyota Corolla, he nevertheless left a t about 2p.m without seeing the Governor. A close source hinted that Awuzie was advised to see Governor Okorocha after the two former labour activists had succeeded in brokering a truce and extracting an undertaken from Okorocha that he will re-instate Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie without any further delay.
Prof. Jega’s involvement stems from the fact that Prof. Awuzie played very vital role in clandestinely flogging Returning Officers who surreptitiously packaged Rochas Okorocha’s election victory, into line. Awuzie was reported to have been vested with the task and responsibility of identifying, short listing and agreeing on realizable terms with those who were eventually confirmed as Returning Officers, during the 2015 governorship election, in Imo State, most of who were alleged to have received millions of naira to work for Okorocha’s victory. Jega, a former ASUU National President had embraced Prof. Awuzie since his days as the National President of ASUU which tenure witnessed the most explosively turbulence and horrorifying era for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Governor Okorocha was said to have succumbed to such pressures and persuasions from the Jega’s for fear that any refusal could amount to an eventual sabotage at the Elections Petition Tribunal where he was accused by Emeka Ihedioha of using fake result sheets to doctor the results of the election in his favour.
Basking in the new found euphoria, Awuzie has since embarked upon a fence mending jamboree with Government House officials, while whipping up sentiments and claiming that his advertorials in National Newspapers for Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was responsible for the Governor’s vendetta and vindictiveness against him. This was however quickly debunked by some of his colleagues at IMSU, Owerri who explained that the major cause of the Governor’s punitive measure was Awuzie’s deliberate sabotage of the Free Education Programme of Okorocha and his meddlesomeness in the award of juicy contracts, appointment of Principal Officers and false claims about the actual amount he receives as monthly subventions and those remitted as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The university community is however not impressed with the moves to return Awuzie to office. They are already expressing support for Prof. Adaobi Obasi for restoring sanity and the fading glory of the institution as a citadel of learning and intellectualism.
Awuzie who is known to be a diehard university administrator but who eventually compromised on his reputation and integrity when he maneuvered his way to displace some of the better and eminently qualified professors at IMSU, realizing that the only way he can escape been discredited is to seek for reinstatement outside the law courts has since gone on his knees, begging Okorocha. Others who found themselves in similar precarious situation like Prof. Chuka Okonkwo have instead had their indictment and suspension quashed by a court of competent jurisdiction. This way, they left IMSU with their integrity intact unlike Awuzie who is said to be ready to do everything to remain relevant even if it means renouncing his stiff opposition to Free Education at IMSU Owerri.
It is worthy to note also that greed and high handedness have cost the university a stable administration and quality learning since 2011. Between 2007 to 2015, there have been no less than five Vice-Chancellors, most of who were appointed by the Governors, some acting capacities. They include Prof. Okere Anthony, Prof Ossy Nwebo, Prof BEB Nwoke, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie and lately Prof. Adaobi Obasi, who has received accolades from both students and staff for her pragmatic approach management of human and material resources for which they have threaten and to protest Awuzie speculated return to office.
The staffs are said not to be comfortable with the way and manner Prof. Awuzie allegedly used his strong contacts at NUC to appropriate the contracts for some of the TETFUND projects which are ongoing presently but considerably advanced within the few weeks of Prof. Adaobi Obasi’s appointment.
To avoid a revolt or rancorous rebellion, some of the staff has severally advised the Governor to drop the idea of recalling Awuzie from suspension. They opined that he administered with a swagger unknown in the history of the tertiary institution, by stepping his tottering foot on a number of sore toes including banning both the SUG and students’ unionism on campus even though he was once an ASUU’s uncompromising activist who was on the pay role of those who plotted the fall of Goodluck Jonathan.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
