By Adesina Soyooye
The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Professor Nnenna Oti, has a strong support from the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, over the demand by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, that she resigns from office.
ASUU, Owerri Zone, had, at a meeting recently, demanded the resignation of Oti over allegations of corrupt practices and anti-union activities.
At a Press Conference, the Union which members include those from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
NANS asked ASUU to rescind its threat to Professor Oti or face the anger of students.
According to NANS, FUTO Vice Chancellor is innocent of the allegations and, so, accused ASUU of being behind the instability in Universities.
Addressing the media Sunday evening, in Abuja, NANS’ Vice President, Comrade Ezenagu Victor, noted that ASUU has “deviated from its core mandate”, and called for its prescription by the Federal Government.
NANS: “It has become expedient to address the unbecoming attitude of the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities. The latest of which is the provocative call by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,zonal leaders for the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology,Owerri,to resign her position over alleged corruption.
“We feel concerned to react to the ASUU demand because the Vice Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Nnena Oti, is a mentor to many of us, particularly, our female folks. We were shocked when we read about the ASUU demand in most national dailies about the woman who has personified integrity, honesty and transparency. Sequel to this, NANS has been able to carry out investigation by interacting with both students and staff of the institution.
“Although we were not able to have any discussion with members of FUTO Management as they said part of the issue we wanted to inquire of was already in court. Our finding has shown that the allegations against the vice chancellor were not only unfounded, but also malicious and wicked. Testimonial evidences garnered by NANS points to the fact that the action of the ASUU leaders is a mere political vendetta.”
NANS claimed that “the alleged attack on Prof. Nnenna was because of her gender, as well as transparency in the discharge of her duties as Vice Chancellor.
“Those who lost to her during the vice chancellorship contest as well as those who could not use her to achieve their ungodly aims during the national assignment have resulted to using ASUU to grind their axe with her, thus making the university ungovernable,”he alleged.
”We, the National Association of Nigerian Students, wish to draw the attention of ASUU in particular and the public in general, that those fighting the Vice Chancellor of FUTO by proxy are obviously threatening peace and tranquility in the university.
“We are already informed that the disturbance is aimed at causing industrial action at the university so as to bring her to disrepute at the expense of students’ learning. It should be well noted that all industrial disputes have major side effects on students who suffer untold hardship during and after such disputes.”
NANS listed the sins of ASUU to include “waste of students’ precious time, amounting to the students spending longer years in the university and waste of resources, as student end up paying more school fees.”
Professor Oti is adored by Nigerian Students, especially, FUTO students for her firmness and straightforwardness in handling the Abia Governorship election in June 2023.
