OAU VC Appointment: Ife Indigenes Accuse Selection Committee Of Taking Oath To Favour Prof Bamire

…we are not aware of oath taking— OAU

The Ife indigenes on Thursday have alleged that oath was administered on members of selection committee to appoint Professor Adebayo Bamire as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

The indigenes through its union, Ife Progressive Forum during a press conference held at the community hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife addressed by its president, Dr Famoriyo Gbolade held that the process was schemed in favour of Professor Bamire.

He said there is a corrupt manipulation of the vital process of scoring and assessing aspirants to the VC position by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji, with connivance of other members of the Selection Committee.

“The secrecy surrounding the exercise is highly suspicious. There was oath administered on the members of Selection Committee, before the interviews were conducted and after, and during the process of compiling the results. The report of the selection committee to the Council was slated for 2pm while the announcement of the reports to the public was slated for 3pm of the same Thursday 17th March 2022. Was the report expected to be automatically approved by the Council?

“Besides, the tradition in the academia is to frontload reports before consideration. Why were the Council members not given the reports at least 24 hours before the meeting in accordance with academic and administrative practice? On entering the meeting and after necessary protocols, members were given palmtops containing the purported selection reports. They were allowed to hold the palmtops for about ten minutes, after which the so-called reports were approved. Why will the university withdraw the palmtops from members? Is it that the Chairman does not trust members? What is it that must be so guided in a public document? Where is it in our academic practice is OATH OF SECRECY agreement from committee members?”

They appealed to President Buhari and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to look into the process that led to the appointment of Professor Bamire as the VC.

However, the Public Relation officer of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju denied the allegation that members of the selection committee were made to take oath to scheme the process in favour of Professor Adebayo Bamire.

He said, “there are civilised ways of seeking justice, especially if a process is perceived unjust. We learnt that a petition has been written. So let’s wait for the outcome of that. I am not aware there was any oath taking.”