Governor Rochas Okorocha, yesterday kicked out of office the Vice-chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. B.E.B. Nwoke replacing him with Prof Aloy Ukachukwu Awuzie, former National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Awuzie’s appointment is with immediate effect.
The sacking of the former acting vice chancellor, Prof B.E.B Nwoke, may not be unconnected with his alleged agitations to ensure that his appointment is regularized from acting vice chancellor to a full vice chancellor as well as numerous petitions and allegations of financial recklessness and mal administration.
Governor Okorocha’s dismissal of Prof Nwoke make it the second vice chancellor he has sacked since he came to power last year.
The appointment of Prof Awuzie as the new acting vice chancellor may raise eyebrows considering that the former ASUU National President is a man that is known to have an independent mind and who does not tolerate interference from any quarters in the running of universities.
His appointment may also be seen by some as a divide and rule strategy, considering that the IMSU, ASUU has been calling on the state government to regularize the appointment of the previous vice chancellor.
As at the time of going to press, calls made to the phone number of the former vice chancellor, Prof Nwoke, to get his reaction on his removal were not picked.
Meanwhile, irrespective of the withdrawal of nine out of the 18-man committee set up by Governor of Imo State to find a suitable permanent site for Imo State University, the committee led by the Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso has reportedly favoured the Ogbaku-Mbaitoli site.
Controversy had continued to trial the committee with most of the appointed members withdrawing from the adhoc arrangement chaired by the Deputy Governor. Apart from the withdrawal of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Chris Anyanwu, about nine other members representing Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala withdrew their participation and wrote to the Governor accusing Sir Jude Agbaso of engaging in partisan proclivity and undue interest in the choice of the university’s main campus. The members from Ngor/Okpala, Ahiazu, Aboh and Ezinihitte withdrew en masse over the alleged insincerely of the Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Governor in handling the matter.
However, despite the mass withdrawal, the embattled committee went ahead to submit its report to the state Government.
Imo Trumpeta learnt that instead of advancing the case of Ikeduru/Owerri North, which the Deputy Governor was accused of advocating during the committee deliberations, the Ogbaku site was recommended.
It was also gathered that while the choice of Ogbaku in Mbaitoli was recommended, that of Ikeduru/Owerri North and Ngor-Okpala/Mbaise came second and third respectively.
The Ogbaku site was propelled by the member representing the area in Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ndunagu, who among other things disclosed that the people and traditional rulers of Ogbaku and Mbaitoli have agreed to give out their land for the purpose.
