THERE are strong indications that two Vice Chancellors may lay claim to the control of activities at the University of Lagos in the next few days, as major stakeholders of the institution refuse to agree on the removal of Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as Vice Chancellor of the institution.
Lawmakers on the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, the Academic Staff Union (UNILAG Chapter), and the embattled VC have faulted the process that led to the “purpoted” removal even as the Council, on Thursday, appointed Prof. Theophilus Soyombo, as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.
The announcement was made in a statement by the Registrar/Secretary to the Council, Oladejo Azeez.
Azeez had, in a statement, on Wednesday, hinged the decision of the Council to remove the former VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, on the outcome of an investigation into “serious acts of wrongdoing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office” against him.
The registrar, however, said the Council appointed the Acting VC at a meeting held in the early hours of Thursday in Abuja, urging the public to disregard Ogundipe’s claim that he remains the substantive Vice Chancellor of UNILAG.
Meanwhile, sources close to the crisis at the University told The Point that there had been a face-off between the Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Wale Babalakin and Ogundipe, which led to the eventual removal of the VC.
A source, who asked not to be named, owing to the sensitivity of the issue, said, “Many members of the Academic Staff feel that Babalakin has his own agenda. He is not welcome here, that is the reason they took their Kangaroo meeting to Abuja. Even at that, many people on the Council did not agree.
“I don’t think this would last, unless he has the Federal Government backing, which we hear he has because of his friends in Government. This injustice should not be allowed to stand.”
ASUU, UNILAG Chapter has since condemned the “purpoted” removal of the VC as illegal, while the embattled VC also said it could not stand, while urging stakeholders to ignore the announcement.
The Chairman of ASUU, UNILAG Chapter, Dele Ashiru, who accused Babalakin of masterminding the Council’s action, said the move was aimed at destabilising the institution.
“His removal is illegal and uncalled for. Our union condemns in the strongest terms, the purpoted removal. It is the machination of the pro-chancellor to destabilise this university,” he said.
Two representatives of the Nigerian Senate in the Governing Council also condemed the Council’s action in very strong terms.
Addressing their colleagues in separate statements on Wednesday, the two senators, Bola Oboh and Olukemi Odukoya, described the development as shameful and unacceptable.
They accused the Pro-Chancellor of turning deaf ears to advice on the tenable way of handling the crisis that led to the VC’s removal, saying he disregarded the guidelines already laid down for the removal of office holders.
“He said he would announce Ag. Vice Chancellor at 5pm. I have excused myself that I need to report to Senate members the shameful act currently ongoing. Please let us arise to fight this,” Oboh said.
“Members, arise. This is unacceptable. We must defend the management of the University,” Odukoya added.
