The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, Abia State, has said that the Chairman of the University’s Governing Council, Fidelis Edeh is not on a revenge mission against the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, for announcing the victory of Governor Peter Mbah, during the Enugu State governorship election in 2023.
The university dismissed reports on social media which claimed that Edeh is blocking several programs of the Vice Chancellor because of his role as the Returning Officer in the election where Mbah was announced as the winner against Edeh’s alleged choice.
According to the social media reports, the alleged revenge caused the cancellation of the university’s 13th convocation, delays in workers’ promotion and total turmoil in the school environment.
Reacting to the reports, the management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike said that the institution is peaceful with all activities ongoing, and not experiencing any form of turmoil.
A statement signed by Ubadire Agua, the Chief Public Relations Officer of MOUAU, accused politicians of attempting to destroy the peace in the institution with repeated fake news.
“The university management, under the watch and able leadership of the 6th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, wishes to state clearly and for the umpteenth time that there is no tension or turmoil in the University,” the statement said.
According to the university, “knowledgeable persons” in Nigeria described the Returning Officer role played by Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe during the 2023 Enugu State governorship election as a national service with demonstration of courage and strong will for justice and wisdom.
It further dismissed reports that promotion of staff of the university was stopped by the chairman of the Governing Council, maintaining that promotion of qualified staff was neither delayed nor denied in the institution.