REINSTATE UNILAG VC NOW, RIGHTS GROUP WARNS ON CONSEQUENCES.

Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, until the recent controversy, has received an unexpected support from the national leadership of the Coalition for South South Professionals of Nigeria (CSSPN). Addressing a press conference on Monday, August 17, in Abuja, the Group Leader Dr Cornelius Izuagbe called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Wale Babalakin led Governing Council to allow Professor Ogundipe return to work and if nothing else seek redress in the law courts. Dr Izuagbe faulted the grounds for his removal calling it an act of “rascality”. “This is an ivory tower with an age-long set of rules and order; there is no reason for the hurry to remove a properly appointed Vice-Chancellor.  “From all indications, the mere allegation of flouting some contract procedure cannot be enough reason for such drastic action”, he remarked. “If somebody is accused of fraudulent practices, there are procedures and processes; you set up a joint committee comprising the Senate and members of the council who shall, in turn, carry out a proper investigation; upon their findings before decisions can be taken; even then, this involves a very long and laborious process”, disclosed Dr Izuagbe. “Now, there is nowhere to show that an investigation ever took place or the findings deliberated in a transparent manner”, he stated. The Coalition leader described the decision to remove the Vice-Chancellor as too hasty, rash and abuse of office. He insisted that awarding contracts beyond the VC’s limit is not enough to constitute serious misconduct or warrant disciplinary procedures. “It is strange that a whole VC accused of infractions was not given time frame to defend himself”, stressing that, something fishy was likely to be cooking. “Maybe if we look beyond the nose, there may be more than meet the eye” he suggested. For instance, the Coalition boss stated that after all, university expenditures are not all that political to attract extreme measures such as setting up a probe on flimsy excuses unless someone has an axe to grind. “We do not want to believe it, but it is possible that there is some underground disagreement somewhere outside the public view; for example, there is the Lagos breezy waterfront that may have sparked off this bitter feud. “Otherwise why would somebody spend N94, 739, 977.89 out of an approved N85, 000,000, and they say that is serious misconduct?” questioned Dr Izuagbe. Without justifying any wrongdoing, Dr Izuagbe stated that this is a country where people award contracts that are never executed and yet remain in office. “What point are they trying to prove? It is obvious that this is a clear witchhunt and professor Ogundipe the victim.” he declared. Taking a deeper look at the whole drama, the Coalition boss, therefore, called on the pro-chancellor to retrace his wrong steps pointing out that the University of Lagos has a reputation to maintain. “The University of Lagos is not a privately run company that should be teleguided and subjected to impunity; we expect the

professor Ogundipe to be reinstated immediately otherwise we shall initiate a one thousand man-match to force our decision through”, warned Dr Izuagbe, hinting that Professor Ogundipe was not guilty of any financial misconduct anywhere except those manufactured to achieve a predetermined objective