A professor in the department of philosophy, University of Port Harcourt, Andrew Efemini has described as ‘childish’, 200 professors, who allegedly threatened to shut down the institution over the lingering tussle for the Vice-Chancellor position of the University.
Efemini challenged the 200 people whom he described as “faceless experts in anarchy and mutiny” to show courage and unmask themselves and their “200 Professors” to see if the law take its toll on them.
He told theportcitynews on Monday that it has become necessary to correct the impression from the faceless violators of the University of Port Harcourt Act whom he said have promised mutiny, anarchy and shutdown of the University if steps are taken to correct the illegalities criminally imposed on the University by Professor Lale and his “200 Professors”.
According to him: “For the avoidance of doubt, section 13 of the University of Port Harcourt Act confers on the Visitor the authority and power to resolve disputes referred to him and the decision(s) of the Visitor shall be binding on all parties.
“It is public knowledge that we have written to the Visitor complaining about deliberate violations of the University Act by Professor Lale. It is expected that the Visitor will act and decisively too.
“The dissolution of the Governing Council and the directive to proceed on leave served Professor Lale is in my opinion appropriate government response to our complaint which we exercised as protected under the 1999 Constitution.
Efemini noted that the Vice-Chancellor on forced leave serially breached the University of Port Harcourt Act in terms of illegal withdrawal and membership of Governing Council from the University’s Senate, Congregation, and Convocation.
“Tenure of membership for the Senate and Congregation were unlawfully reduced in 2017 and the crime repeated in 2019. For Convocation representation, there was no election as prescribed by the University Act.
“If you have illegal members in a Council what will be the status of the whole Council?
“Do you know that there are accomplices in the crime of Professor Lale; the entire management of the university is guilty one way or the other in the crime. Is it not the same Council which confirmed the election of the DVC? So do you retain and reward a beneficiary of illegalities?
“The same illegal internal members got involved in truncating the process of selecting the 9th Vice-Chancellor for the University. Two of these illegal internal members found themselves in the almighty Selection Committee. We complained and we are called names for exposing the fraud.
“What we put before the government are facts and we should be able to own to our failures when karma comes calling. After dinning with the devil some people want to make heaven without repenting.
“Can you imagine “200 people” promising to shut down the University if the government takes a step to enforce compliance with the University Act? They are not threatening to go to court but are promising anarchy and mutiny. How many times did thousands of students and staff shut down the university under the reign of the most oppressive regime of Professor Lale? Maybe all the armoured tanks and armed Police officers Professor Lale used to oppress us are no longer in Nigeria. Monkeys threatening Lions.
“Maybe those childish releases will deter the government from freeing the University from the hold of a wicked Cabal terrorising staff and students while breaking the law.
“It is clear that the government will need to act decisively to bring the violators of the University Act to book to serve as a deterrent to other”s.
