The etymology of the FUHSO debacle By adakole Elijah

The Federal University of Health Sciences, FUHSO, Otukpo, is currently embroiled in a maelstrom of controversy precipitated by the Machiavellian machinations of the outgone Vice Chancellor, Professor Innocent Achanya Ujah.

This erstwhile academic leader, famous for his propensity to causing gridlock, has entrenched himself in a desperate and despicable bid to maintain control over this ivory tower even after his exit.

Ujah’s strategems have been multifaceted, involving the dubious appointment of Professor Stephen Abah as the Acting Vice Chancellor in flagrant disobedience to the university’s governance strcture. He Deliberately orchestrated and entrenched the problem to enable him to control the institution at will.

But the erudite Professor of Microbiology and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of administration, Ediga B. Agbo, who understands the dynamics of University administration, refused to flow with Ujah on his trip to perdition.

Ujah started his nebulous and imperious strategies by gifting professorial status to academics loyal to his administration to shop for their support in a time of need.

The refusal of Professor Ediga Agbo to sheepishly trail Ujah like a loyal mongrel in what the French people depicted as “Diabolique”, or ignominious and inglorious journey was the causus belli that led to his attempted illegitimate removal as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration last year by Professor Ujah.

The attempt was thwarted because, according to Agbo, the outgone Vice-Chancellor lacked the powers to remove him. The power to remove him, he averred resides with the council. He also exposed Ujah’s high-handedness as he was depicted as behaving like a native potentate and, at best, Nebuchadnezzar.

He also faulted and decried Ujah’s attempted diversion of the University’s funds to build a hospital in his Ai-Dogodo village at a time when the university was scouting for funds to continue with the construction of projects in its permanent sites at Akpa.

Questions have been asked variously about the rationale behind the anticipated establishment of a hospital on behalf of the University in the Vice-Chancellor’s village using the university’s money when no appreciable work has been done at the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo. The Teaching Hospital as it is today is operating in a dilapidated structure without adequate amenities.

Since the exposition, the University environment has not only become toxic but has been thrown into a state of disquietness and quandary, with Ujah being accused of behaving like a local tyrant.

The latest imbroglio sprouted from a letter dated 30th September 2024 by the university council formally notifying Professor Ujah of his retirement date which was scheduled for 6th of November 2024. On the said date, Ujah would clock 70 years old and, therefore, ineligible to continue as the Vice-Chancellor even though his tenure ordinarily was supposed to expire in May 2025 when he would have completed his five-year tenure. Unfortunately for him, no retired academic has ever been allowed to function as a Vice-Chancellor of any public university in Nigeria and as such, his case wouldn’t have been possible.

With this ding-dong affair, Ujah was said to have been at daggers drawn with those perceived to be an obstacle to his quest of continuing in office after retirement. The university council was not left out of this as his “hatred” for the Council Chairman and members allegedly climaxed to a feverish pitch.

From that moment, Professor Ujah, who was acting true to the meaning of his name became combative, squaring up with the council on all frontiers. He was said to be ready to rock the boat not minding the consequences.

When the council asked Ujah to brief it on the state of affairs of the University, especially in the areas of finance, assets, and audited accounts, the former Vice-Chancellor blatantly refused to oblige. He was alleged to have obstructed the council’s oversight functions.

To exhibit how contemptuous he was to the council, Ujah allegedly and callously appointed a crony of his as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of administration without recourse to the council, just as he was also alleged to have refused to acknowledge or respond to official communication from the council.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was his refusal to attend the governing council’s meeting on 17th October 2024.

This, and many more in the considered view of the council “represented a consistent pattern of noncompliance with transparency, accountability and due process principles essential for university leadership”.

He was, therefore, summarily suspended and, in his stead, appointed Professor Ediga B. Agbo in an acting capacity. This appointment, which received thunderous ululation from all and sundry, was made public by the University’s Public Relations Department.

Coerced by this scenario, Ujah raced to the Federal Ministry of Education where one of his former students is functioning as the Permanent Secretary to help salvage his dwindling status. This was after the intervention of the Honourable Minister.

The Minister, in his benevolence, pleaded with the Council to offer Ujah a soft landing to enable him to complete his tenure, which expires on the 6th of November, 2024 and proceed on retirement.

However, the permanent Secretary, in an obvious conflict of interest, breached the Minister’s directive and ordered his reinstatement in preparation for his eventual retirement on the 6th of November 2024. Both the Minister and his Permanent Secretary, in separate correspondences to the council, appear to be unanimous on Ujah’s retirement and exit date. Either way, he was billed to say goodbye to the young university on the 6th of November which certainly fell short of his expectation of May 2025.

Nevertheless, the council, in deference to the Minister, summoned an emergency meeting on the 31st of October, 2024, where it was gathered that the combative outgone Vice-Chancellor was asked to apologise to the council for his infractions against it and be allowed to proceed on retirement leave, but Ujah refused.

Angered by that demand, Ujah was said to have devised another strategy aimed at embarrassing the council. He was alleged to have stormed Otukpo last Tuesday in a Gestapo style with a retinue of security men and thugs to install his factional Acting Vice-Chancellor in the Person of Professor Stephen Abah.

Before the purported appointment, efforts were made to gain entrance into the GRA and Otada campuses of FUHSO to no avail. When Ujah and his loyalists couldn’t gain entrance into any of the University campuses to effect his wishes, he resorted to holding the purported “Senate” meeting in a small cubicle in the Teaching Hospital as his “Senate Hall”. Only 16 out of the over 50 members of the University Senate were said to have sat to appoint Professor Abah as the Acting Vice-Chancellor. The figures as of the time of scripting this report were still being disputed as some people opined that only eight persons attended the meeting. The University’s Registrar was not even invited to the so-called “Senate meeting”.

The Registrar, who was saddled with the responsibilities of convening such a meeting, said that he was not in the know and was also not in attendance.

As expected, the council, through the Registrar, Mallam Aminu Abba, instantaneously disassociated itself from the kangaroo appointment. This could be gleaned from a press Statement from the office of the Registrar personally signed and dated 6th November 2024.

An excerpt from the statement read, “The governing council, Management, and other organs of FUHSO herby categorically dissociate the university from any claims regarding the appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor emanating from this fraudulent meeting”.

The Statement, which further validated the appointment of Professor Ediga B. Agbo as the substantive Acting Vice Chancellor, said Ujah, whose suspension has not been lifted, lacks legal powers to convey the Senate meeting.

From the press statement, it was obvious that the audacious attempt to import the feudalistic style of administration into FUHSO was nothing short of egregious.

It’s appalling to witness the machinations unfolding, where Professor Abah has been cleverly pitted against the council and possibly other critical stakeholders.

The underlying dynamics are palpable – many are hesitant to challenge the outgone Vice Chancellor, having benefited from his patronage, especially those who were gifted professorial appointments.

From the above situation, it was obvious that the dubious appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor by a handful of individuals raises fundamental questions about the legitimacy of the process.

It is essential to recognize that the Senate cannot unilaterally make decisions without the council’s approval. The notion that the Senate can supersede the council’s authority is a gross misinterpretation of the university’s governance structure.

In this case, there was no authentic Senate meeting as stated by the Registrar of the University in the course of this ignominious appointment, hence, the purported appointment of Professor Abah was not only declared illegal but null and void and of no moment by the council.

Elijah, the living ancestor (Adalekwu ) writes from O’EJE Fortress, OTADA-OTUKPO.