Governor of Rivers State,Nyesom Wike has charged the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt UNIPORT, Prof. Stephen Okodudu to revitalize the glory of the institution and geared the activities of the institution towards achieving academic excellence.
The Governor who frowned at the alienation of lecturers in the institution with mainstream politicians to manipulate electoral processes.
Governor Wike gave the charge while receiving some members of delegates of the University led by Okodudu in the Government House, Port Harcourt said the emergence of the substantive vice-chancellor of the institution was enmeshed in such politics.
According to the Governor, “It is appalling that the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor of the institution is also immersed in such political consideration. That is the reason why there is an impasse in the emergence of a substantive Vice-Chancellor.
“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 or is appointed because of such affiliation. In turn, he recruits willing lecturers who will be used to manipulate the electoral process.
“Such a trend is destroying the university system. It distracts from the core business of teaching. After manipulating the outcome of an election, you will turn around to say leaders are not doing anything.
“You make it possible for bad leaders to emerge and you bemoan their inefficiency in office. How can you exonerate yourselves from such leadership?
“Rigging of election is worse than armed robbery. It is better to punish such people more because they have denied the people their mandate and benefits of good governance”.
“We want the glory of the school to be restored. Return it to what it used to be. My Commissioner for Commerce whose husband is a lecturer in your institution informed me about the bad section of the East-West Road. I quickly sent the State Road Maintenance Agency to fix it”.
In his remarks, Okodudu commended Governor Wike for the harmonious relationship between the State Government and the institution and gave his assurance to deliver on the tax ahead of him.
Oreoluwa Jonathan
