Group canvasses fairness in KWASU VC’s appointment

A socio-cultural group in Kwara state, Kwara South consultative forum, has advised that a senior deputy vice-chancellor at the state-owned university (KWASU) should be appointed as the acting vice-chancellor of the university in order to address fairness and justice in new vice chancellorship appointment.

The 10-year-tenure of two terms of five years each of the outgoing vice-chancellor from the Ilorin emirate, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, ends on July 27, this year.

Addressing a press conference in Ilorin at the weekend, the spokesperson of the group, Chief Joseph Aderibigbe, said that the alleged dominance of indigenes of Ilorin emirate in the Kwara Central senatorial district of the state at the expense of other senatorial districts of the state was unjust and unfair. 

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“The Kwara central senatorial district should recognise that every district like every man has a right to be treated as a district equal in opportunity to be enjoyed and treated fairly, justly and equitably.

“Specifically, when two vacancies of the chancellor and pro Chancellor existed, the two positions were replaced by persons from Kwara central which the IEDPU represents. Unfortunately, the then governor ignored Kwara South Consultative Forum’s complaint about the anomaly.

“KWASU belongs to all Kwarans who are responsible for the maintenance of the institution. For that matter, every local government makes monthly financial contributions to the sustenance of KWASU. 

“Unfortunately, over the years only Kwara Central Indigenes were in control of the state administration whereas key positions are expected to be spread among the three senatorial districts of the state. 

“The fact that other senatorial districts kept quiet over the years does not mean that we are oblivious of our rights,” he said.

The group also disagreed with at an assertion by the IEDPU to the effect that a policy has been in place to appoint indigenes of a particular area as heads of institutions cited in their domains.

“The question that comes to mind is, who made that policy and what was the objectives thereof? We hasten to say that, that policy does not exist and it is self-serving and retrogressive.

“We recollect that indigenes of the Ilorin emirate had at one time or the other headed institutions outside their domains”, he said.