From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The sacked pro-Chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka , Amb Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe has appealed to President Bola Tinubu who is the Visitor to the University to review the case that had led to the dissolution of the governing council.
Erstwhile Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo , said his appeal to President Tinubu for a dispassionate review of the matter has become necessary to save his hard-earned reputation.
Amb Mbadiwe who stated this at a press conference in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on Tuesday, said that the recent events—particularly the declaration of illegality concerning the properly constituted Committees of the Council tasked with selecting the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, which strictly adhered to the provisions of the Nnamdi Azikiwe (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012 as amended and the abrupt dissolution of the University Council by the Ministry of Education has compelled him to speak out.
The statement which read, ” During the appointment process for both the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, all relevant stakeholders, including representatives of the Council and Senate, were fully involved and adequately represented.
The Search Committee was properly constituted, with one external member of the Council serving as Chairman and four other internal members.
The Selection Committees for both the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar were also duly and lawfully constituted in line with established regulations.
It is important to note that the so-called aggrieved parties have already filed multiple cases in court, which are still ongoing. The court of law remains the highest arbiter of justice, law, equity, and fairness. Resolving these matters administratively, without regard for judicial processes or court orders, is not only unjust but also a grave miscarriage of justice.
Does this suggest that the authority of the court, as the ultimate institution for adjudicating justice, no longer holds sway in our beloved country, Nigeria? I respectfully disagree and take exception to such a notion.”
Continuing, “I have served my country with honour and distinction in numerous capacities. I was Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in 2004 and Director of Road Safety in 2003. I served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, a member of the 2004 Constitutional Conference, and Chairman of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In recognition of my service, I was decorated by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 with the national honor of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR).
Over the years, I have undertaken various other assignments for my country, far too numerous to list here. I hold my integrity in high regard and remain committed to upholding the principles of justice and fairness in all my endeavours.
Finally, with utmost respect and highest regard, I appeal to Mr. President to save me and my reputation and meritorious services spanning nearly 3 decades from wanton destruction. I have served my country diligently, and with all the strength it pleased the good Lord to avail to me.
But in the recent past, these efforts were cast by the wayside as a statement issued by the ministry of Education as a news item in the electronic media heralded the dissolution of the council of The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka of which I was hither to the pro Chancellor and chairman of council.
He added, ” Mr President, sir, whilst I have no objection to the content of the terse statement by the ministry I was however surprised that a statement such as the one in question with far-reaching implications and consequences to my person and reputation built through several decades of meritorious services to my father land in various capacities could be made by high-ranking officials of the ministry of education without recourse to well established rules of natural justice
1) You must listen to the other side before taking far-reaching decisions.
2) No man must be a judge in a matter he has a personal interest in.
It therefore trite that in clear violation of these two basic rules that one can find a clear case of a real likelihood of bias as it is clear that the ministry of Education acted without inviting me to ask any questions or seek inputs from me in any aspect of the subject matter in question in a matter as critical as this.
Mr President sir it is for this reason that I appeal to you for a review to save me, my career, and my reputation from unwarranted destruction.”