The Truth The Cabals Ruining Ambrose Alli University Didn’t Want Governor Obaseki To Know – Special Report 

By Otor Drama

AMBROSE Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma has been on the decimation downhill and avoidable free fall that now cumulates in the proposed balkanisation of the 40-year-old legacy and premier state-owned tertiary institution in Nigeria since Governor Godwin Obaseki stepped into the Governorship saddle in Edo State.

Because of the Governor’s inadequacies, lack of commitment to basic rudimentary leadership, absent mindedness and obviously being a victim of emotional intelligence, the cabals in and around the government cycle have pillaged and plunged the university into cesspool of corruption.

The problem began in the 4th quarter of 2019 when the previous Council conducted a staff biometrics exercise and identified actions to be taken against about five hundred (500) staff who fraudulently found their ways into the employment of the university, assisted by those bent on crippling the institution. The staff were in four categories.

First amongst them were staff who fraudulently falsified their birth records and declared between three to five different dates of birth in their official records and documents. The second set were staff who did not have NYSC discharge or exemption certificates in their official records and so violated the laws of Nigeria by being employed without undertaking the NYSC, even though they graduated after 1973.

The third set constituted over two hundred and thirty (230) staff who were being “paid” by the Onimawo university administration without employment records. The fourth were the over three hundred and fifty (350) staff employed illegally and without Council approval by the Vice-Chancellor named Prof Onimawo.

After the dissolution of the previous University Council late last year, a few of the cabal; namely Mr Austin Osakue and the present Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sunny Adagbonyi, who is incidentally the Governor’s brother inlaw and their collaborators in government quarters instigated the Governor to constitute another committee to conduct another biometrics without allowing him to see the one already conducted. The purpose and intent was to defraud the university because the new Special Intervene Team (SIT) members with the inclusion of the same Mr Austin Osakue have been having been collecting millions of naira for seating allowances and accommodation fund for a job that has already been neatly executed and delivered.

One of the former Council members told Trojan.com.ng NEWS/TV correspondent in Benin City that the half-baked members of the of SIT and shylock collaborators in Edo State Government House are more interesting in creating jobs for the boys.

“A new biometrics exercise is unnecessary. Action should be taken on the outcome of the 2019 exercise as discussed and concluded by the dissolved Council in their meetings of February and June 2020 respectively.

“The SIT should look into the records and not be distracted. But Osakue is an interested party and will stand in the way of the SIT chairman.

“This is the problem in AAU plus the previoud Council’s war on corruption which blocked all the leakages in the AAU finances.

“For these reasons the enemies of progress fought the dissolved Council and told countless lies to the State Governor to ensure that the true situation is not allowed to see the light of day.

“Please, go and investigate from other University sources. This is the whole truth”, he said.

Edo State Government made a half-hearted attempt to probe the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ignatius Onimawo but the attempt allegedly collapse after money exchanges hands. The government, at the inauguration of the dissolved Council made the point that it had directed the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate Prof Onimawo of the litany of petitions and corruption allegations against the former Vice-Chancellor. After the government pronouncement on Prof Onimawo’s corruption allegations, more damning evidences have been unearthed without serious prosecution, either by the State Government or the EFCC.

How feasible and economically viable is it to create a multi campus system from a 40-year old university by relocating faculties and colleges whose faculties and infrastructure are set and fixed? Why will the Governor knowingly kill interfaculty complementarity in a University that has distinguished excellence in known schools and faculties for four decades. If you move Engineering and Agriculture faculties what of the fixed equipment and farms used for learning?

For the record – since the Governor Obaseki lay claims to financial wizardry –  it’s not financially viable to undertake a multi campus system if the institution or government does not supply adequate running funds to cover salaries and overheads. In the last six years the Governor has reduced the monthly subvension for the institution four hundred million (400,000) to a paltry of forty million naira monthly (40,000).

A multi campus system duplicates services and can be very expensive. Staff are bloated and the cross-deployment of teachers is impaired by time and space. People are tempted to say the State Government owns the University and can do whatever it likes with it. But if the idea is wrong as this one is, the government should be made to change its plans.

In 1983, Governor Ogbemudia wanted to decentralise AAU but it failed. Before then the AAU faculty of agriculture was to be relocated to Asaba but it failed. As we speak 50% of salaries of AAU staff have not been paid for over sixteen (16) months and four months full salaries are owed the staff. Now tell me, how will a multi campus system help AAU in this situation? The university of education set up in edo south by Governor Oshiomhole has been dismantled by Governor Obaseki.

Can Edo people for once, outside political correctness fathom out what is actually going on in our dear state? Both in primary and secondary schools there are no teachers in Edo State. Now the Governor wants to extend the anomie to the tertiary institutions and some people see no danger in crippling the educational sector provided it’s politically correct for the naysayers.

There are four or five (plus Ekiadolor) universities in Edo South. There is a university and a polytechnic in Edo North. There are two universities in edo central plus a moribund college of education in Igueben, courtesy of Governor Obaseki’s EDOWORST education policy. Frightened by the strength of AAU, the government wants it dismantled. The real target of the intent of government is ASUU for legitimately demanding for their salaries.

If Obaseki wants a multi campus university, he should do it in Edo University at Iyamo because it is new and still flexible or creat more Universities across the eighteen local councils of the State. AAU will work marvelously if the state government keeps its fingers away from its affairs and finances it appropriately as the laws establishing it stipulates. It’s time for Governor Obaseki to build something enduring instead of destroying everything he inherited.

A Prof in Engineering department in the university Trojan.com.ng NEWS/TV correspondent last night that the institution will erupt in protest and unimaginable crises beginning from next week Monday when asked the position of the stakeholders.

“Protest is for Monday next week as we are mobilizing and sensitizing the Mass of the people for it.

“What we’re dealing with in AAU is a terrible situation where a Governor who didn’t know that a former Governor of the state like him built University of Benin, Ekpoma, Iguoriakhi, Igueben, Usen Poly, Ekiadolor, Iyamoh and others, who care less about enduring legacy can only be tagged as selfish, egoistic, wicked and devilish”, the Prof said