By Udom Udo
It has been several months since that show of shame at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the fallout one would expect in a society pursuing reforms are nowhere in sight.
In August of 2016 the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zane Akpagu, against decency, had a faction of students protesting in his favour to counter the institution’s bursar, Mr. Peter Agi and to suppress a protest against his regime of malfeasance. Agi’s reportedly incurred Professor Akpagu’s wrath for daring to be a whistleblower and exposing the corruption that had pushed the university to the edge of insolvency.
While Professor Akpagu was quick to purportedly suspend the bursar, his action has done nothing to make the allegations of fraud levelled against him to go away. If anything, more facts came out about how he has practically run UNICAL aground.
One may also want to note that if the Vice Chancellor concluded that the bursar has to exit because of the trumped up charges, he has more grievous claims of infractions that should have by now made him to show the institution his back.
Accusations against the Vice Chancellor included mismanagement of the University of Calabar TETFUND monies. Unlike the other institutions that judiciously used their intervention fund, UNICAL has not been able to show the kind of improvement that comes with TETFUND’s intervention in recent times.
It must also be put on record that Professor Akpagu has shown no remorse as he has shown disdain for the judiciary by his violation of a subsisting order of the National Industrial Court Uyo, in his desperate bid to punish Agi for exposing the crimes committed against the university and the federal government.
But Professor Akpagu’s greatest crime is abusing his position of authority to corrupt the students admitted into his care as Vice Chancellor. He drafted to protest in support of corruption and against the transparency that can come from whistle blowing. When parents relied on the pedigree of UNICAL to send their children there, being recruited as pro-corruption campaigners was not one of their desire. The Vice Chancellor has therefore lost the moral authority to continue guiding the future of these students as it would be most unfair on the upcoming generation to be taught that sleaze is a good thing that attracts accolade.
The latest report is that the Vice Chancellor is again plotting to incite students to again stage protests in his support even though he is aware that this is an unpopular position that would attract the ire of right thinking students who find corruption offensive. This is the recipe for violent clashes. The lives of the students are at risk because of one man’s desperation to cover his tracks.
It is not for nothing that society expects leaders with conflict of interest to step aside while weighty allegations against them are conclusively disposed of. The wisdom of this became evident recently when a civil society group alleged that he ruined the institution. UNICAL has become an institution where civil society organization mount regular protests, further dealing a blow to the reputation of the school. But even their protests have done nothing to make the Vice Chancellor see reason and do the right thing.
Professor Akpagu may stubbornly hold unto his position in the face of the reeking corruption around him but he has to accept that someone whose standing and integrity has to be perpetually second guessed is unfit to hold any position under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has sufficiently demonstrated that he will brook no such nonsense.
This is why it is imperative that the Presidency takes a critical look at the running of UNICAL. In doing this, anti-graft agencies should not allow themselves to be impeded by the fact that … squandered the institution’s resources in attempt to help former President Goodluck Jonathan to win the 2015 election in that state. This is what has made it difficult for him to balance his books but in the fashion that has become popular he is going to claim witch-hunt for being sympathetic to the opposition.
Professor Akpagu’s corruption is killing UNICAL. Who will save the University of Calabar?
Udo is a concerned educationist writing from Ambu Street, Calabar.
