On the Matter of Community Protest at the Federal University Otuoke {RE: 'Our VC is a thief': Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

[Mobolaji Aluko]

JUI (Joe U. Igietseme):

Thanks for your intervention - much appreciated...

Such protests are part of the university terrain in Nigeria.....I respond to the protests with explanations, but the extraneous accusations - thievery, Yoruba favoritism, etcheram, ad nauseum -  I don't let them bother me; because they are invariably part of the arsenal to get what they REALLY want.  After all, it happens even in the Nigerian cyber-waves all the time - with some members of the Lunatic Fringe around here like Emenike and Oderaigbo editorializing and licking their chops over the news!

The press also sensationalizes - and sometimes hints that they could be more favorable to us for a consideration, which I always quickly dismiss as needless...I am NOT campaigning for anything, I always tell them! :-)

It is somewhat old news - the actual event of demonstrations at the University reported occurred  two weeks ago now, on September 4 to be exact - but I owe some explanation to "My People" reading this:

1.  With respect to the MOU with the Otuoke Community, negotiations have been continuing for over a year, but we at first reminded them that we are not like Shell - even though most universities are viewed like oil wells by their local communities -  and that any MOU must be within the LAWS that govern universities, as we are under the NUC and the Federal Ministry of Education.  So, set numbers of staff to be employed, in governing or top management positions, or  students admitted  and contracts - without due process - CANNOT and WILL NOT be included in any MOU that I will sign.  Such an MOU will however include commitments to always seek the fair interest of the host community in aspects of concern to them.  By the way, the last draft of an MOU from the University side was submitted over four months back, and we await the Community's response, now that the King is back from an overseas trip after a brief illness.  We have sent another set of 10 copies of the Draft MOU for quicker discussion, and we have been promised quick response..

2.  Employment is another matter.  We already have 1300 staff total - and 1040 students, a clear imbalance, with further (and some understandable)  imbalance in favor of Bayelsa, Ogbia and Otuoke.  However, further employment MUST be rational - that is what we have assured the Federal Character Committee of the National Assembly when we were raked through the coals last year over lack of FC -  no matter the pressure.  Any list submitted MUST be accompanied with application letters and CVs AND their names against the 21 Stakeholder Communities (ie 7 Landlords, 7 Compounds and 7 Others) in Otuoke  - not just names without stake holder identification (that could lead to claims of marginalization eg of the Landlords of the university land, and therefore a need for instant redress, meaning even more employment), or just  phone numbers, academic or professional qualification and positions sought.  ALL must be interviewed - no automatic employment for ANYBODY.   In any case, we cannot begin to deal with 319 names from just one town.  No way.....even a community university, not to talk of a federal university, should not act that way....we have asked that the list be pared down, and the Community is already meeting on a revised list, and is responding positively.

3.  With respect to admission, at the end of the day, the University does not ADMIT - it merely RECOMMENDS to JAMB students to be admitted after Post-UTME (university screening after UTME), whereupon the universities sift through the names with JAMB to see who has actually met ALL the subject combinations that they told JAMB that they would do.  The Federal University Otuoke student therefore is the student who MATRICULATES - having fulfilled all requirements and paid fees.    

Giving us forty names by the Community when only 25 of them chose OTUOKE in JAMB at all is problematic.  If  only 20 out of the 25 Otuoke made the JAMB cut-off mark of 180, and/or the PUTME cut-off,  is another hurdle.  If 15 of those who made the cut-off mark chose a narrow set of courses (Political Science, Accounting and English are the most popular) is another problem, since our quota of students to be admitted (hovering between 300 and 500) is skewed 60%-40% towards the Sciences, 45% of who must be STRICTLY by merit, according to certified JAMB rules.  Then after choosing even all the 15 students, some do get admission elsewhere, and choose elsewhere - as they should if they don't want to spend all their lives in Otuoke.  So between RECOMMENDATION and MATRICULATION, a lot can slip between the cup and the lip.  

We have carefully explained to the Community that it is still early days, that as the Freshman size increases, and there are more course offerings, numbers of students admitted will increase, but we cannot FORCE students into the classes SIMPLY because they are from Otuoke:  otherwise, we will soon have the next problem of poor performance in our hands.  We repeat these explanations every year, and have promised to set up exam prep sessions for the Otuoke community, PARTICULARLY in the Science subjects, where there is serious lack of representation.

4.  Not much has been complained about with respect to CONTRACTS, but we have told the Community that the University awards contracts to qualified COMPANIES, not INDIVIDUALS, and the quicker companies with community interest are identified and formed, the easier it will be to compete favorably in procurement, renovation and construction contracts in the university.  BUT the work MUST be done - and done well - no short cuts.   A number of Otuoke-based companies have won contracts, both small and not-so-small with the University; yes "local content" must be ensured, otherwise "external content" will have problems.  There are still some grumbles here and there - but not much.

5.  Finally, whenever I meet the Community, I always emphasize a number of issues:

  (a)  the University is a FEDERAL university under law, NOT a Community University, and the Vice-Chancellorship cannot co-run the university with the Community, no matter the generosity of the Community in providing land and start-off infrastructure.  The VC cannot constantly run to the Community for affirmation.

   (b)  the essence of a University is in educating students and conducting research (for inventions and innovations), and NOT as an employment agency or a contracting concern.  Sometimes, that essence is lost; nobody seems to care about the QUALITY of instruction, just EMPLOYMENT and CONTRACTS.  The VC's business is beyond employments and contracts.

   (c)  all the advantage of a university being in the Community cannot be obtained in one, two, three or even five years.  The advantage is in perpetuity, and even extends BEYOND the walls of the universities since students and staff have municipal needs BEYOND the university walls.

   (d) as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University with fixed term, I am expected to uphold standards without any fear of intimidation by any other Chief Executive anywhere else in the country,  while ensuring fairness to the host community.  That is, I too am President of our 200-hectare lot, while the favored Son of Otuoke GEJ is President of a larger lot! ;-)  When some of the "repentant" Militant Generals of the Niger-Delta call me too demanding employment, I tell them - always to their amusement - that I too am a General of the University, and need to determine whether my "militant" members can shoot a gun (are qualified) before I employ them; is that not what they too first have to do?  [Some of the Generals upon my insistence recently agreed to donate a building to the University.....we shall see]

6.  As to the Press people, the University is ALWAYS open to them, so it is untrue that I EVADED any of them.   In fact, following the last demonstration, after a two-hour meeting with the King and Community leaders, I met seven of them for about an hour  in my office  on that very day, and did not dismiss them until they stopped asking questions. Only the Punch and the Nation press people were not in the room, but it was the Punch that FIRST carried the news of the demonstrations, wallahi, and the Nation re-warmed it in its Niger-Delta Report of today!    I find that interesting.

In general, when I meet the Press at Otuoke, I emphasize that first I am a Public Servant, so have to be careful what I say, but also that I am a Press person of sorts because I write opinion pieces and maintain a website.  But "Jonathan's town" has a fascination with them - they like to ask entrapping questions - and I am invariably assured by some that if I wish higher office, they can help me to burnish my image - for some consideration.....Not all of them, but some of them, but I dismiss that always as unnecessary:  I am NOT running for anything!:-)   I don't think that they always like that.

7.  Finally, I am in the fourth of my five-year term as pioneer VC and I am thoroughly enjoying the job, honestly! I am grateful to God and to those who gave me the opportunity - they know themselves! :-)

And there you have it.

Bolaji Aluko

On Fri, Sep 19, 2014 at 6:57 PM, Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID) <jb...@cdc.gov> wrote:

I believe VC Aluko has already clarified the relevant issues associated with this incident at FUO, including the assurance from the university leadership that the community will be carried along as the university develops; specifically, local employment will be encouraged; the principles of Fed character will be followed according to the situations in other Fed institutions; and all constructive suggestions and observations will be looked into and addressed according to the institutional policies!

So what is in this recent post now? I will reserve my conclusion for now……………………hehehe!!! Take care. JUI

 

From: africanw...@googlegroups.com [mailto:africanw...@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 1:46 PM
To: africanw...@googlegroups.com; PR Nigeria; nigerianw...@yahoogroups.com; Niger...@yahoogroups.com; nigerian...@yahoogroups.com; talk...@yahoogroups.com; UmuAn...@yahoogroups.com; Anambr...@yahoogroups.com; Nigeria World
Subject: Re: [africanworldforum] 'Our VC is a thief': Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

 

 

I have to disagree with these protesters....  The most qualified candidates sghould be hired, it matters not where they are from.. 

 

 

---

From: 'Emenike C.' via AfricanWorldForum <africanw...@googlegroups.com>
To: "africanw...@googlegroups.com" <africanw...@googlegroups.com>; PR Nigeria <prinn...@yahoo.com>; "nigerianw...@yahoogroups.com" <nigerianw...@yahoogroups.com>; "Niger...@yahoogroups.com" <Niger...@yahoogroups.com>; "nigerian...@yahoogroups.com" <nigerian...@yahoogroups.com>; "talk...@yahoogroups.com" <talk...@yahoogroups.com>; "UmuAn...@yahoogroups.com" <UmuAn...@yahoogroups.com>; "Anambr...@yahoogroups.com" <Anambr...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: [africanworldforum] 'Our VC is a thief': Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

 

Chei!

Otueke VC is a thief! Are we surprised? Otueke is finding out a little too late.

Emenike

 

'Our VC is a thief’: Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

By News Express on 19/09/2014

 

The gate of the Federal University Otuoke, home town of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State, was under lock and key on September 4, 2014 as youths protested against the university administration led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko.

On that fateful day, the school gate was locked and pasted with placards by the youths, thereby preventing academic and business activities from holding on campus. Some of the placards read: “VC Is  a thief”, “You must give account”, “Pack your bag or pack your bones” , “No employment , No MOU, No Admission , VC Why?” , “Federal University is not Yoruba Affairs”, among others.

The Financial Secretary of the Otuoke Youths, Comrade Green, told newsmen that Otuoke youths have tolerated the Vice Chancellor for a very long time and that since all efforts to reach a compromise have failed the last resort was to cripple activities of the university and disrupt ongoing semester examinations until their demands were met.

He further told our correspondent that the university does not employ their people, instead other tribes, especially the Yorubas – the Vice Chancellor’s tribe – were in majority in every cadre of staff. He also informed that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into between the community and university was not approved, and that there is no transparency and accountability in the running of the university.

Other grievances tabled by the students include the denial of admission opportunities, local contractors not being carried along and that after due consultation they decided to embark on a peaceful demonstration. Security agents watched without interference.

After making failed efforts to reach out to the university authorities, including the Head of Public Relations Department, Miss Mercy Ekott, Blueprint sought the opinion of the traditional ruler of the town, His Royal Highness, Lotts Ogiasa, and surprisingly met the Vice Chancellor and management staff holding a meeting with Deputy Paramount Ruler since the King, according to a source, was said to be indisposed and recuperating.

Those in attendance at the meeting which lasted for over two hours were the leadership of the Otuoke Youths and representatives of the Ijaw Youth Council. When he was informed about the presence of journalists, the Vice Chancellor evaded them by directing them to his office, which was already locked.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor had commended the press for their prompt response and remarked that protests were not new to any university community and that what happened at Federal University, Otuoke, was not strange, as it was a peaceful protest without destruction of properties.

He further admitted that the university has been under serious pressure from the Otuoke Community in particular and Ogbia in general. According to the VC, when one group comes with its demands, once attended to another will come under different guise or names. He said the university administration has been trying its best to address the myriads of their needs within available resources. He appealed for their understanding.

Prof. Aluko said that the misunderstanding centered mainly on three principal issues of admission, employment and MoU. He explained that it was the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) that set the template for admission after candidates must have met admission requirements and cut-off points and passed the post-UME tests. Prof. Aluko lamented that students who did not even make the university as their choice and without departmental requirements were always brought for admission. He said he told them at the meeting that the university will try as much as possible to admit those that meet the requirements but that they should also note that the principle of federal character must be adhered to in employment and admission processes.

On employment, the VC said his office was inundated with a list of 316 applicants for employment from only Otuoke to the exclusion of other persons from Ogbia and other parts of Bayelsa State. He disclosed that these names were supplied without CVs and applications and during the meeting he directed them to ensure that applicants should write applications and attach their CVs, assuring that those qualified would be shortlisted and invited for interview, while the successful ones would be employed for the vacancies available.

Prof. Aluko explained that when their demands were becoming too much, it was decided that their requests should be routed through the Obenama (traditional ruler). He said that the MoU implementation had reached an advanced stage when it was learnt that the document had been sent to the Obenama who was outside the country for treatment. He assured that once the Obenama is well the MUO would be signed.

The VC blamed the crisis on the leadership of the youth and appealed to them to be mature in handling issues as demands by any university community could not be met in one day.

The Federal University, Otuoke, is among the nine federal universities established in February 2011 by the President Jonathan administration for states without a federal university. It is yet to move to its permanent site: a 200-hectare land in Otuoke in Ogbia LGA.

•Adapted from a Blueprint report. Photo shows Federal University Otuoke VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko.

Source News Express

Posted 19/09/2014 10:13 AM

 

On Friday, September 19, 2014 3:13 PM, 'isaac umunna' via AfricanWorldForum <africanw...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

 

On Friday, September 19, 2014 2:10 PM, NewsExpress Nigeria <newsexp...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

The gate of the Federal University Otuoke, home town of President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa State, was under lock and key on September 4, 2014 as youths protested against the university administration led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko. On that fateful day, the school gate was locked and pasted with placards by the youths, thereby preventing academic and business... Click on the following link to read the complete story http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=7443.

 

--

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldfo...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanw...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/1411132425.58165.YahooMailNeo%40web161702.mail.bf1.yahoo.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

 

--

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldfo...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanw...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/1411138459.81496.YahooMailNeo%40web124706.mail.ne1.yahoo.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

 

--

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldfo...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanw...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/1411148747.69606.YahooMailNeo%40web125203.mail.ne1.yahoo.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "naijaintellects" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to naijaintellec...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to naijain...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/naijaintellects.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Ola Kassim]

Bolaji

Thanks for the timely explanations!

Well done!

It is hard to believe you are already in the 

4th year of your tenure as the founding VC

of FU of Otueke.

More grease to your elbows!

Bye,

Ola

Sent from my iPhone

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/CAORq2DDy5mSRJDR0taiveZtWNg7f7Om14ZQ2%2BvBkJax354guhw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ibukunolu Alao Babajide]

Dear STD (Segun Toyin Dawodu not Sexually Transmitted Disease),

 

Your reaction here echoes the same grave error committed by Philip Asiodu and his fellow super permanent secretaries under Gowon, who because of the difficult terrain and backwardness of the Niger Delta refused to pump money to develop the place.  Today we are all reaping the consequences of that error.

 

An Igbo lady friend of mine once told me what his Igbo uncle who worked with Shell in the early 60's said the Ogoni were so backward when Shell began serious work in their area that they roamed naked and ran away from Shell workers, and he was denigrating of them.  That attitude led to their anger and demands later and the rest is history.

 

Now you want Prof. Bolaji Aluko to abandon the Ijaw community of Otueke.  30 years hence, the place will breed militants who are 50 times worse than the ones of today and they will threaten you and your well heeled folks in Benin and Lagos.  On the contrary, if he perseveres and convinces them that hard word and discipline are the hallmarks of greatness, they will turn Otueke into a mini Dubai, and leave the rest of the country alone to develop at their own pace.

 

The Nigerian elite that you typify do not engage!  We are too timid and arrogant to engage with the people on the grassroots and win their confidence.  At the earliest sign of protest and discord, we arrogantly abandon the task and feel we are doing them a favour.  When they grow in ignorance and backwardness and come to destroy our peace of mind we then run away to live abroad and say nonsense about those who are struggling at home to make a difference.

 

Let us all encourage Bolaji Aluko to stay and make a difference.  Let us all adopt an Otueke student and mentor them.  Let us all engage with the Community and dispel their sense of entitlement and encourage them to study and become genuinely educated and exposed so they can spread the enlightenment.  This demonstration exposes the depth of the rot and the depth of the great work ahead, not a reason to resign and flee.

 

Until we all see our own complicity in the developmental problems at home and assuage our guilt by engaging, we shall wallow in retrogression and under-development.

 

Cheers.

 

IBK  

_________________________

(+2348061276622)
i...@usa.net

------ Original Message ------
Received: 12:13 AM EAT, 09/20/2014
From: Segun Dawodu <stda...@gmail.com>
To: naijain...@googlegroups.com, naijaintellects <naijain...@googlegroups.com>, USAAfrica Dialogue <USAAfric...@googlegroups.com>, africanw...@googlegroups.com, PR Nigeria <prinn...@yahoo.com>, nigerianw...@yahoogroups.com, Niger...@yahoogroups.com, nigerian...@yahoogroups.com, talk...@yahoogroups.com, UmuAn...@yahoogroups.com, Anambr...@yahoogroups.com, Raay...@yahoogroups.com, NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com, Yan Arewa <YanA...@yahoogroups.com>, ekiti ekitigroups <ekiti...@yahoogroups.com>, OmoOdua <Omo...@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: "Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID)" <jb...@cdc.gov>, Joseph Igietseme <jigie...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Spam] Re: [Naijaintellects] On the Matter of Community Protest at the Federal University Otuoke {RE: 'Our VC is a thief': Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

Prof,

Who are the youths protesting? Those at home who couldn't pass waec? 

It is obvious that this was instigated by some big dudes in the community. 

My advice, is to leave Otuoke people with their wahala and abandon the place. 

That university is destined to the garbage if the community is expecting the university to be like the oil companies and in a period when GEJ will no longer be in government. 

And referring to your ethnic as part of their protest is unfortunate.

Segun

From: Mobolaji Aluko Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 4:40 PM To: naijaintellects; USAAfrica Dialogue; africanw...@googlegroups.com; PR Nigeria; nigerianw...@yahoogroups.com; Niger...@yahoogroups.com; nigerian...@yahoogroups.com; talk...@yahoogroups.com; UmuAn...@yahoogroups.com; Anambr...@yahoogroups.com; Raay...@yahoogroups.com; NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com; Yan Arewa; ekiti ekitigroups; OmoOdua Reply To: naijain...@googlegroups.com Cc: Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/CCID/NCPDCID); Joseph Igietseme Subject: [Naijaintellects] On the Matter of Community Protest at the Federal University Otuoke {RE: 'Our VC is a thief': Irate youths demand sack of Otuoke Federal Varsity VC, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko

[Stephania Alofuokhai-Ghogomu]

THANKS A THOUSAND FOLD FOR THIS CONTRIBUTION!

GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY!!

WITH LOVE FROM A DIASPORA OTUOKE WOMAN!!!

Stephania.

2014-09-23 8:01 GMT+01:00 Ibukunolu Alao Babajide <i...@usa.net>:

This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (i...@usa.net) Add cleanup rule | More info

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/433siwHaQ9264S04.1411455702%40web04.cms.usa.net.

[Stephania Alofuokhai-Ghogomu]

Emenike  must be as sick in the brain as the youths!

What a shame?