By Saliu Ayinde
The piece by Onimago Abdulsalam titled “KWASU VC tussle: Uncovering The Igbomina Sinister Move and Plots Against Ilorin emirate Staff and her Professors in particular” has indeed raised the hornet nest. It has given some of us a sleepless night considering its implications on the peaceful atmosphere at the Kwara State University, which as of today, remains one key institution flying the banners of the state across the world.
Anything that would therefore affect the university negatively must be quickly nipped in the bud before it is escalated. It is for this reason I am volunteering an opinion, to check the bad blood the article may likely generate.
The said article alleged witch-hunting of Professors who are of Ilorin emirate origin by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shaykh Luqman Jimoh. From what I know of that university, this is far from the truth, and the records must be put straight to disallow many from believing in the salvo the article has thrown. Let me first talk about the person of the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
From what I know of this man, he is a brother to every known Ilorin emirate person. The image I have seen of him is that of a quiet, unassuming, and humble person who would, for no good reason at all, want to rock the boat or build enemies. Since the demise of the second Vice-Chancellor when the mantle of leadership fell on his shoulders, he has led the university with an inclusive and purposeful agenda.
The university has run without hitches and has been making waves nationally and internationally in these past months. This attests to the administrative acumen the Acting Vice-Chancellor is endowed with. That is my impression of the Acting VC and his leadership style.
On the allegation of witch-hunting as contained in the piece by Onimago Abdulsalam, I think this may be taking an imagination too far. Statistics available to me point to the contrary. While you may want to think that the principal officers of the university seem heavily tilted to one side, this development is from an accident of history caused by the demise of the late Professor Muhammed Akanbi (May Allah bless his soul). That development should not be used to crucify the innocent Acting Vice-Chancellor.
Today at KWASU, out of nine Deans elected or appointed, Ilorin emirate has six, representing about 67%. This excludes producing the Dean of Student Affairs and that of Postgraduate School. In the same vein, out of 33 Directors of Centres in the university, the Ilorin emirate has 17, representing more than 50%.
These statistics do not support the allegation of witch-hunting contained in the piece by Onimago. Other matters raised in that piece are beyond my comprehension, and so I am unable to respond.
My appeal to all those who have read the piece by Onimago is that they should not take the entire content hook, line, and sinker. Let us eschew anything that could tilt the balance at KWASU negatively.
Let us have faith in the government that it would be fair and just when it is time to have a substantive Vice-Chancellor for KWASU.
Let all pen pushers retreat to their tent, so that the good work in KWASU may continue.
Saliu writes from Ilorin.