UNN VC: “RETHINKING OUR STRATEGY”

By Chidi Omeje

Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Jude Chidi Omeje; I’m from Ibagwa Aka and a proud alumnus of the great University of Nigeria.

I would like to thank those at the forefront of the advocacy (yes, it should be an advocacy) for ndi Nsukka to produce a Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, 63 years after establishment.

Not going to bore us with the merits of this argument as we all are aware and indeed passionate about them.

My intervention is simply to invite us to review our strategy in order for us to achieve the desired result.

First of all, we must understand that we (Nsukka people) are not the only ones who are in this situation, and so, our quest is not unprecedented.

I’m aware that Benin, Ibadan, Ife and a couple of other indigenous people have at one time or the advocated, agitated or fought for one of their own to produce the vice chancellor of the university established in their domains.

In each of these instances, the struggle was always visited with similar fate: a widespread revulsion and definite pushback (mostly by the academic community and ultimately the selecting authority).

The default clap back is usually the “excellence-will-not-be sacrificed-on-the-altar-of provincialism” retort.

In matters like this, we must strive to learn from the experience of others. When the indigenous people of Ile-Ife were up in arms for one of their own to occupy the vacant position of VC OAU, they sought the support of renown pro-masses advocate and literary icon, Prof Wole Soyinka.

To their chagrin, instead of offering them the help they sought, he mercilessly chastised them and told them that they were crazy. He went further to demonize and denounce the Ife indigenes’ efforts in the media and told authorities never to listen to them.

Similar widespread revulsion awaited Ibadan people. Benin people eventually got one of their own to occupy the position but he ended up the worst VC that the university ever had.

My point really is that this advocacy is not a popular one. It never bodes well for the academic community who will always remind you that excellence must trump any sentiment, even when it is an open secret that excellence was never the key consideration in the selection of UNN VC in the past two decades.

Who doesn’t know the meddlesome role of the so-called Anambra billionaires who have practically merchandised the process?

Who doesn’t know that characters like Prince Arthur Eze have always had their ways in determining who occupied the exalted position all these while?

Even at that, who doesn’t know that those meddlesome interlopers do their things and achieve their plans discreetly and without a whimf in the media?

Our Ill-advised Media Advocacy Strategy

So far, our only known strategy for this battle is media activism. I have read a couple of copious articles and opinions written by our people to advance this cause.

The other day, one of our finest was drafted to Arise TV to make our case. Whether he succeeded in swaying anybody or convincing those that make the decision is left for our individual assessments but I know that the duo of Reuben Abati and Rufai Oseni made a mince meal of his arguments.

That less-than convincing appearance on Arise TV has further cemented my conviction that not every battle must be taken to the media realm.

Some battles are indeed won with tact, discretion and stealth. This particular battle of ours is better fought with utmost discretion.

Recourse to media activism or street demonstration will be counter productive. It will be akin to driving against the traffic and we all know the outcome of such blind enterprise.

Making a media show of this battle will only attract more pushbacks and counter-reasoning. Why do I say so?

It will not be popular within the academic community and will not resonate with the alumnus of the university, and will ultimately come off as an open blackmail against the government or whoever is responsible for the selection of Vice Chancellors.

When you aggregate these negatives, you will see clearly how we are surreptitiously working against our own desire…

What To Be Done

1. Cease every planned media activity for this project: no television appearance, no articles in newspapers, no social media influencing.
2. Set up a discreet action committee that will walk the talk.
3. Pile pressure on Enugu Governor; get the buy-in of Imo Governor (who happens to be the Chairman of Progressive Governors).
4. Identity those who will make up the selection committee (especially the chairman) and ‘befriend’ them, if you know what I mean.
5. Put our money where our mouth is. We have to have a substantial war chest for this enterprise. Nothing happens in this country without funds. We could even reach out to our Diasporan community to help out if our money bags and politicians at home can’t foot the bills.
6. Reach out to the ubiquitous Anambra billionaires and get them to see reason. Getting their buy-in and support will be more productive than hounding them in the media as you cannot predict their own pushback.

Overall, I believe that this project is a winnable one but we must show more tact to succeed.

Emotional outbursts and sentimental posturings will not cut it.

You all saw how Dr Nwodo was shredded by those fiery Arise TV anchors. It can even get worse when known academics and opinion molders join the fray to carpet the advocacy. Don’t forget that they already have the superior argument which is that excellence trumps whatever sentiment one might advance (not saying that Nsukka doesn’t have excellent professors!). As it, our argument is anchored only on sentiment but we can make a difference with it if we deploy it strategically.

Like I pointed out earlier, we are not alone in this situation and we should be able to learn from the experience of other people who is in the same shoes.

In conclusion, I will say to us that we must remain steadfast, tenacious but tactful.

Deje’n!

Chief Chidi Omeje wrote in from Abuja.