By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
A coalition of 25 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the controversy surrounding the selection of a Vice-Chancellor for the University of Abuja (UniAbuja).
The coalition, operating under the Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development, criticized recent protests by some professors, labeling them “unnecessary and counterproductive.”
The protests, according to the coalition, are part of a deliberate effort to undermine the reputation of Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisha Maikudi. The coalition’s spokesperson, Dr. Wisdom Chinedu, expressed frustration and disappointment over the protests, calling them an “absurdity and a direct attack on due process.”
The coalition alleged that the protests are motivated by a desire to discredit Professor Maikudi because of her gender, youth and northern origin. They emphasized that this is antithetical to Nigeria’s educational development, particularly given the global focus on promoting youth and women’s leadership.
The key demands are:
Protection for Professor Maikudi: The coalition urged President Tinubu to protect Professor Maikudi from “ethnic gang-up, political orchestration and desperate power mongers.”
Police Investigation:They demanded that the Nigeria Police invite troublemakers to serve as a deterrent to others.
Truth and Reconciliation Panel: The coalition suggested that the Minister of Education establishes a truth and reconciliation panel for the post-VC tussle era.
The coalition also addressed allegations of southern exclusion from the selection committee, labeling them “baseless and politically motivated.
