2023 politicking stalling emergence of new UNIPORT VC, says Wike

• Rep seeks arrest of killers of six Ogonis in Rivers
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has blamed 2023 politicking for the delay in announcing a new substantive vice chancellor for the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

He regretted that the ivory tower had become a place “where lecturers align with mainstream politicians in order to manipulate the electoral process.”

The governor spoke when the institution’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu, led a delegation to Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.

The state chief executive said the university was “one of the best in academics, character moulding and leadership in the country.” Consequently, he charged Okodudu to make concerted efforts at restoring the institution to the path of academic excellence.

“It is appalling that the appointment of a vice chancellor for the institution is also immersed in political consideration. That is the reason why there is an impasse in the emergence of a substantive chief executive.

“I must tell you the truth. Politics has penetrated the institution. The position of a vice chancellor used to be based on merit. But the consideration now is different. Every vice chancellor wants to align with a politician. In return, he recruits willing lecturers who will be used to manipulate the electoral process,” Wike stated. He lamented that the development was destroying the university system and distracting the academia from the core business of teaching.

According to him, “after manipulating the outcome of an election, same persons would turn around to say leaders are not doing anything.”

Responding, Professor Okodudu said he was appointed to serve for six months and restore peace in the university community.Stating that his administration had set machinery in motion for the task, he thanked the governor for the existing harmonious relationship between the state government and the institution.

MEANWHILE, the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor, has charged security agencies to fish killers of the six Ogonis in Luumene community of Rivers.

He said it was “regrettable that while the state government was spending so much resources to ensure adequate security of lives and property of the people, bandits were running amok, particularly in Khana Local Government Area of the state.”

Dekor made the appeal after visiting the affected communities invaded by gunmen last week. He also called on security agents to contain the gruesome killings.