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Centre Berate Calls For Suspension Of Nigerian Varsity Chancellors, Ambali, Akpagu
The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency has faulted the recent call by the Egalitarian Movement of Africa (EMA) for the sack of the Vice Chancellors of University of Illorin, Professor Abdul Ganiyu Ambali and his University of Calabar counterpart, Professor Zana Akpagu.
The group warned EMA not to allow itself to be used in the hands of saboteurs within the educational sector who do not mean well for the good of our country. EMA, a non-partisan society of academics had during the weekend called for the sack of the duo over alleged corruption.
Reacting however, via a statement on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of the group, Comrade Isaac Ikpa said that there was no logic in the call for the suspension of the two Vice Chancellors after a thorough investigation by the Centre. According to Ikpa, “It is clear from our investigations that the facts of the Vice Chancellors who were suspended by the Honourable Minister and the other two Universities are not the same in any material sense.
“Unlike the other Universities, the truth is that University of Ilorin and University of Calabar have no established cases of corruption against the Vice Chancellors anywhere in the country and the attempt to drag them into the mud for selfish reasons should be discarded by the Honourable Minister and all well meaning Nigerians.
“Whereas in the case of Unilorin, members of ASUU University of Ibadan had used the occasion of the appointment of Professor Ishaq Oloyede to get to Professor Ambali who succeeded Oloyede and had taken the University to its enviable height in the society, Prof Zana Akpamgu is being tormented by a certain character who was sacked from the University for his fraudulent actions.
The group therefore, called on EMA to withdraw its statement and tender an unreserved apology to the two gentlemen and their families for dragging their names into the mud. It added that, “Failure to do this, the Centre would be forced to drag EMA before a court of law as it’s within our mandate to rise for public officers who are nonetheless Nigerians and must not be destroyed for simply providing services in their areas of competence.
“These University Vice Chancellors at the moment deserves honours for their excellent performance in the last one year and any attempt to vilify them is to discourage selfless leaders in the shoes of Obafemi Awolowo who served Nigeria with all their strength and energy.
“It is worthy to note that until his appointment, Ambila was a renowned professor of veterinary medicine and also the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University for years and had not record of abuse of office.
“Similarly, Prof Zana Akpagu of Unical had proven to be an astute individual, who had been appointed into several enviable positions, such the Commissioner for education in Cross River State and member of the State Executive Council under the last two administrations. It would be unfair for anyone to accuse him of corrupt practices.”
Zimbabwe’s justice minister introduced to parliament Tuesday a controversial constitutional amendment bill that would extend the term of the president, but faces fierce opposition and court challenges.
Parliament has to vote on sweeping changes to the constitution approved by the cabinet in February that include a provision that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term until 2030.
The measures would also do away with general presidential elections, giving parliament the power to appoint the president, and extend the terms of lawmakers from five to seven years.
The amendment has become one of the most contentious political issues in Zimbabwe, where Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF party enjoys an overwhelming majority in parliament.
After introducing the proposal, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told journalists the government was determined to push the measure through a parliamentary debate.
He said a 90-day public consultation process was successful and widely supported.Related News
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Opponents say the consultations were marred by intimidation and violence, with anti-amendment activists assaulted by suspected state agents or arrested.
Several legal challenges seeking to stop or invalidate the amendment process are before Zimbabwe’s courts.
Critics say the bill would entrench the Zanu-PF, which has governed the resource-rich country since independence in 1980, overseeing crippling economic crises and accused of corruption and repression.
Mnangagwa came to power in 2017 in a military-backed coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, president for 30 years.
He was elected for two five-year terms, in 2018 and 2023, which is the constitutional limit for a president.
AFP
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Top 10 Performers:
- Kaduna State 73%
- Delta State 70%
- Anambra State 65.5%
- Niger state 65.1%
- Ekiti State 64.5%
- Akwa Ibom State 64%
- Lagos State 64%
- Oyo State 61%
- Enugu State 56.5%
- Borno state 54%
Middle 10 Performers:
- Kwara State 53.5%
- Abia State 52%
- Ondo State 51%
- Nasarawa State 50.5%
- Osun State 49.5%
- Ogun State 48.5%
- Kano 48.5%
- Kogi State 48%
- Edo State 47%
- Jigawa State 46.8%
Worst 10 Performers:
- Bauchi State 44%
- Ebonyi State 42%
- Katsina State 41.5%
- Gombe State 40%
- Kebbi State 34%
- Plateau 33.5%
- Rivers State 30%
- Benue State 25%
- Yobe State 22%
- Taraba State 20%
These rankings are based on the CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) report, which evaluates states’ performance in areas like e-governance, transparency, and accountability.
The CIAPS Governance Performance Index (CGPI) is an initiative of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, CIAPS. CGPI was conceived as a catalyst for benchmarking, documenting, measuring and encouraging good governance in Nigeria.
Following the conclusion of party primaries, Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN) as a civil society group championing the cause of all youths and middle age citizens has congratulated His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his landslide victory in the presidential primaries recently held.
RUN also congratulated Senator Godswill Akpabio for emerging unopposed and the wild jubilation that greeted his victory as the Senator representing his constituency, the good people of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
In a press release signed by Amb. Solomon Adodo and made available to journalists, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent, the group described the win of the duo as beam of hope for Nigeria beyond 2027.
According to him, “the win of Asiwaju and Akpabio signals a beam of hope for Nigeria that beyond 2027, we shall be consolidating on the gains of synergetic partnership between the legislature and the executive as a precursor for rapid development.
“The support extended to Mr. President by the Senate President has yielded significant strides in fasttracking development across all parameters that affect national productivity”
The group therefore called on all Nigerians to come out in their numbers to support the president while outlining series programs with potentials to foster national unity across regional and religious lines.
“As a group representing the interests of Nigeria youths, we are determined to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President towards improving the skill set of Nigeria youths towards increased productivity and an end to unemployment”, the release stated.
The group expressed confidence in the possibility of a new Nigeria of our dreams with the victories of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Godswill Akpabio who will definitely be handed a second term as the Senate President “to continue synergizing with Mr. President for a better Nigeria”.
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