By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State Government-initiated Special Intervention Team (SIT) operating in the State-owned University, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, has been commended for its resolve to correct all the anomalies entrenched in the operations of the University prior to its coming in 2021 following the passing into law the enabling principles for the team to operate in the administration of the University.
This commendation was contained in a communique and statement issued by the Chairman, Dr.Nosa Alfred Omoregie, and Secretary, Dr.Nwoke Ernest Onyebuchi of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma Chapter, at the end of its strategic leadership meeting over the weekend.
CONUA, in its statement, commended “the spirit and intention behind the setting up of the Special Intervention Team which has helped to clear, undoubtedly, a greater percentage of the rot within the University”, stressing that “No doubt a pocket of resistance still exists from traducers who dream and wish for the reestablishment of the rotten status quo pre advent of the SIT.
“With all modesty, a cancerous ailment deserves a painful surgical operation to bring relief to the patient, which is the situation being faced in the University which the SIT, as the leadership of the current University Administration, has been able to confront and address frontally.
“The landmark achievements attained by the SIT led University administration within the period under consideration has in no small measures rattled the nay sayers and the static beneficiaries of the rot ridden pre special intervention AAU,Ekpoma, that they still can’t imagine that the repositioned AAU Ekpoma of today is playing out right before their eyes as a stark reality.
“Like the saying goes, ‘no system is perfect’, but we have seen great changes in Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma since the Special Intervention Powers Law of 2021 as Amended, was put in Place in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, giving the SIT as the leadership of the University Administration special powers to sanitize the University and take it to the next level in repositioning, a function in success that can be attested to today, by any objective observer.”
CONUA leadership further said that “The Sanitization of the University has so far been felt far and wide. Change goes with a lot of issues, some palatable others non palatable. We in CONUA AAUE Chapter, as a Union of progressive minded objective academics, have witnessed the great and positive changes that have been brought to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, sequel to the assiduous,undaunting, untiring, unrelenting work of the SIT, supported by the University Management in repositioning Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in all spheres.
“We in CONUA AAUE Chapter therefore call for the establishment of a Governing Council to oversee the affairs of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, but only after the Special Intervention Period is brought to a logical conclusion by the total and holistic review of the University Laws that have been before the Edo State House of Assembly. Having in mind the effect of new wine in old wine skin, CONUA AAUE Chapter feels that constituting a Governing Council for Ambrose Alli University, must be under a valid University Law.
“The Law on ground, as at today in the University, is the Ambrose Alli University Special Intervention Powers law of 2021 as Amended. And for a Governing Council to be in place, the Law of Ambrose Alli University must first be in place bona fide. That is why CONUA AAUE Chapter is calling on, as a matter of urgency, the House of Assembly Edo State ably led by the Rt.Honourable Agbebaku Blessing, to dispense as a matter of urgency the Ambrose Alli University Law review that is currently before it and by so doing usher Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma into the era of further progress, from the emergency that it has existed in via the Special Intervention Powers laws of Ambrose Alli University of 2021 as Amended.
CONUA AAUE Chapter, urges the Governor of Edo State and Visitor to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, His Excellency, Governor Nogheghase Godwin Obaseki, to do all in the ambit of his powers to bring the Special Intervention Period that has been a great rejuvenation, recaliberator, revelator, re-energiser and blessing to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, to a smooth conclusion by doing all it takes by goodwill and all that goes with it, to get the Reviewed Ambrose Alli University Laws passed by the House of Assembly and signed into Law. This, as CONUA AAUE Chapter sees it, will be the beginning of a new era for the University, a veritable foundation on which every other structure can stand,” says the Union
