***Urges Kogi Govt to investigate authors of fictitious allegations
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
KOGI State government has been urged to investigate the authors of allegations of corrupt practices leveled against the Vice-Chancellor of state-owned Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, Prof. Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu.
The socio-cultural group from Adavi Local Government of Kogi, “Committee of Friends, Ogaminana” made the call in a statement signed by Alhaji Isah Suleiman, Chairman; Musa Ohiani, Secretary; Yusuf O. Nasiru and seven other members on Monday in Lokoja.
The group described the allegations against the Vice Chancellor as a case of “Corruption fight back” arising from the reformatory efforts of the Vice Chancellor against unethical practices in the institution.
They described the allegations of corrupt practices, sexual harassment and anti-party activities contained in the circulated documents, as evil work of disgruntled individuals.
The group held that the allegations were aimed at mud slinging and tarnishing of the impeccable reputation of the accomplished academic, administrator, and public servant, Vice Chancellor, Engr. Professor Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu,
According to the group, independent investigation revealed that some staff members, who were reprimanded for their involvement in unethical practices were behind the campaign of calumny against the Vice Chancellor.
According to them, the unethical activities include insubordination, harassment and threatening of subordinates, extortion of students, demand for sexual favours in exchange for grades, and other illegal and immoral acts.
The statement averred that the authors of the write-ups were either oblivious of the sound moral upbringing and high academic reputation of the Vice Chancellor, or they were purely on a mission of tainting his enviable records.
The group further held that the records had made the Vice Chancellor an asset of inestimable value not just to Ebiraland and Kogi State but the entire country, Nigeria.
“Our Association wishes to use this medium to call on the university authority to unmask these individuals and show them the way out of the services of the institution.
“Such rotten eggs can only be a cog in the wheel of the progress of a noble institution like CUSTECH.
“The Groups held that the allegations of corruption, sexual harassment, and other sundry issues raised in the “ghost petition” were products of corruption fighting back.
“Those who have compromised and made huge gains from systems will always feel threatened when the right things are done. We know Professor Abdulrahman to be a man of high integrity whose commitment to upholding the values of the University and the Government of Kogi State is unquestionable”, they said.
The Committee of Friends from Adavi stressed that to further buttress the irresponsibility of the faceless petitioners and their allegations, they used the phone number of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Salawu, as their contact.
“His exemplary service to the university and the state has earned him the admiration and respect of the government and the academic community.
“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of education and his unwavering loyalty to the government, bestowed upon him the title of Deputy Chief Servant of the State.
“While the Kogi State House of Assembly has openly commended his leadership, with a letter of commendation issued during one of their recent plenary sessions”, the group added.
The group therefore called on the State government to fish out those behind allegations and be thoroughly investigated with a view to meting appropriate sanctions to protect the outstanding record of CUSTECH.
The Committee of Friends of Ogaminana said the call was necessary to guard against the institution being turned into a theatre of gossip and rumour mongering with the attendant adverse effects on the academic and moral achievements of the institution. (Ends)