From Linus Effiong, Umuahia
As the tenure of the Vice Chancellor Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU Prof. Francis Otunta gradually winds up, the traditional rulers of land donor communities have called for a new VC of Ikwuano/Umuahia South extraction.
The traditional rulers who made their position known when they receive in audience the executive of Progressive Citizens Forum for Tertiary Institutions Abia State, revealed that since the inception of MOUAU, none of their sons have emerged as the Vice Chancellor of the institution, even when they have qualified sons and daughters capable to serve as the Vice Chancellor.
The traditional ruler of Umuariga autonomous community, Oboro clan in Ikwuano L.G.A, and Chairman traditional rulers of land donor communities for MOUAU, Eze Christopher Ejirika who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers insisted that time has come for a candidate/qualified professor from the donor Communities to occupy the Vice Chancellor seat.
He said the mission of Progressive Citizens Forum for Tertiary Institutions Abia State is in line with the vision of the traditional rulers of land donor communities and advised the group to carefully look across the communities and get at least two best candidates in accordance with the criteria for a new Vice Chancellor of the institution.
The traditional rulers who threw their weight behind the mission of the organization, however advised them to peacefully go about the struggle and make their template known to them.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of Progressive Citizens Forum for Tertiary Institutions Abia State, Chief Chinkwe Ndimele said the body want to persuade the government authorities and let them know that land donor communities have qualified professors capable to occupy the MOUAU Vice Chancellor position.
Ndimele pointed out that the body has not made such a request before, hence the need for the government to heed to their humble request. “For the first time, we have never made this type of request, so they should heed to our request”, Ndimele said.
He disclosed that the motto for the organization is to foster unity within the communities that donated lands and in furtherance to that, to make sure that whatever dividends such institutions will bring, will be beneficial to the communities.
Ndimele said the main reason for the visit to the traditional rulers of land donor communities, was to introduce themselves to the traditional rulers and in turn x-ray their aims and objectives.
The tenure of the fifth and present MOUAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Francis Ogbonnaya Otunta who assumed office on March 1, 2016 might likely end in the year 2021.
