The Ife protest is a shame
The protests by the Indigenes of Ife Autonomous Community, at Obafemi Awolowo University over the failure to appoint an indigene of Ife as the Vice Chancellor of the university is very disheartening. It is sad to see tribalism and sectionalism being openly embraced by the people across the country. Obafemi Awolowo University is a federal […]
The protests by the Indigenes of Ife Autonomous Community, at Obafemi Awolowo University over the failure to appoint an indigene of Ife as the Vice Chancellor of the university is very disheartening. It is sad to see tribalism and sectionalism being openly embraced by the people across the country.
Obafemi Awolowo University is a federal university. The word “federal” in this context makes the university one that cuts across the totality of Nigeria’s tribes and interests. Therefore, in the appointment of its officers, tribe and location of the persons should not be considered. Any candidate deserving of sensitive posts like that of the vice-chancellor should be given the position after proper scrutiny; notwithstanding the states of origin involved.
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Most probably, throughout the whole of the 60 years, there would have been indigenes of Ife community who aspired to be the vice-chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University but were not qualified enough for the position or to put it in simpler words, they were not the best for the job.
Taking into consideration the indigeneship factor in the appointment of public officials in federal institutions would bring nothing but ruin to the system. This bias could pave the way for incompetence and at the end of it all, the students would be at the receiving end.
We are Nigerians and despite the diversity of tribes, religions and interests that we all have, we are one big black race. Therefore, it will only do the citizens well to look beyond the surfaces of tribes and other such divisive factors. Competence and diligence instead should be the values we Nigerians should watch out for in the appointment of public officers.
We shouldn’t forget so quickly, that Barack Obama, a Kenyan and an American altogether won the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections in America. Indeed, he made all blacks proud. We should remember that, though there were white competitors, Obama scaled through, because he earned and deserved the position.
In the same manner, there is no “Ife or Ekiti OAU,” OAU is for all Nigerians. Therefore, any deserving citizen notwithstanding his or her indigenousness should be given the utmost respect, as he or she also has the right to steer the wheels of the vehicle in question.
Okanume Precious Mmesoma, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife