By Abiola Olawale
Professor Bernard Odoh, who was recently sacked from his position as Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, has expressed his frustration on Thursday regarding the manner of his removal.
He articulated his belief that the process leading to his sack did not adhere to established protocols and proper procedures.
It would be recalled that Odoh’s sacking was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
The statement disclosed that the sacking of Odoh was necessary for the Federal Government to wade in to address brewing tensions in the institution.
The statement said: “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.
“After the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address tensions between the university’s Senate and the Governing Council of the 33-year-old institution.
“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process.”
In an interview with Arise TV, Odoh firmly expressed his stance regarding his removal, stating that he would not recognize it as legitimate if communicated through a mere press release.
Instead, he insisted that he would acknowledge such a decision only after receiving conclusions from a thorough investigation by an appointed council.
He said: “I’m not disobeying Mr President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack after investigating me,” adding that “Mr President could have been ill-advised.”
“You can’t fire somebody you didn’t employ. The Visitor (Tinubu) appointed the council and the council followed due process to engage and give me a letter. He can’t remove me through a press release.
“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release but rather by a constituted authority which followed a straightforward procedure.”
With regards to his confirmation as a Professor which had come up as another debate, Odoh said the allegation was false, saying that when the “lies and fake news” regarding his professorship came up, the then-Registrar at the time he was confirmed as a Professor, took his records to the Sokoto State High Court for confirmation.
“What some people did was to pay somebody to remove my records from the university. The VC who appointed me still teaches at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and he wrote my reference letter,” he added.
Odoh further claimed that his ordeal is also tied to being a native of a “third class” state, adding that he would go to the university to ensure that accreditations and activities are properly done.
“I’m from Ebonyi State. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State. People have ganged up to remove me at all costs.
“I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. The Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a crisis on campus. I am an alumnus of this university. It pains me that the university is being destroyed,” he concluded.
