THE race for the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin took a new dimension on Wednesday as a group, Edo Unity League (EUL) warned that it would resist any attempt by any group of persons or individuals to tribalize the position as the tenure of the current occupant of the position, Professor Lillian Salami draws to a close.
The University advertised a few days ago for interested people to apply for the position.
The coordinator general of the group, Engr. Marvis Okharedia gave the warning in a statement entitled “UNIBEN VCship: stop dropping Benin National Congress name or ethnic sentiments in your pursuits” said proficiency and intellectual capability should be the basic factors for pushing for who to take over from the outgoing Vice Chancellor and not tribal sentiments, noting that, it will be counterproductive.
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According to the group its secretariat has been inundated with “schism” by some professors of Benin extraction to have been purportedly endorsed by the Benin National Congress, as well as “touting ethnic jingoism as the major criteria for the credibility-proof appointment.
“This is a most unfortunate tendency, and should not be allowed to gain roots in an intellectual capacity driven citadel of learning of a foremost federal institution.
“When we sought clarification from the Benin National Congress, it turned out to be outright falsehoods, the claim that it is supporting any candidate of Benin extraction, and it emphatically declared that – by providence, the Benins have had the shots at the post of UNIBEN VC back to back and back, it (BNC) is not taking that for granted, and it is more than ever predisposed to competence, capacity and credibility as the irreducible minimums from academicians seeking the post regardless of their ethnic or geopolitical backgrounds in Nigeria.
“It added that, the BNC will publicly expose any academician engaging in such outrageous sentimental voyage if they do not desist forthwith”.
Okharedia said for them in the Edo Unity League, they are in sync with the Benin National Congress, to expeditiously pray for the emergence of a thoroughbred academician and an administrator that can further transform the citadel of learning to greater heights.