Prof Ogundipe and Prof Soyombo
Contrary to widespread rumours of an atmosphere of unease at the University of Lagos, Akoka, one week after the removal of the erstwhile Substantive Vice–Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, indications have emerged of a gradual shift of the hitherto hard-line posture by the overwhelming majority of academic staff of the Institution.
The softening of minds by many of the lecturers who are influential elders and members of the University Senate is a fallout of mediatory roles spearheaded by former branch Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), Prof Ayo Olowe.
Although, the ASUU leadership chaired by Dr Dele Ashiru continues to insist on its call for the reinstatement of the former VC, there is a newfound reality that the only path to avert a prolonged crisis in the University is to cooperate with the Acting Vice–Chancellor, Prof Omololu Soyombo.
Prof Ayo Olowe
Said a Professor at the Faculty of Engineering: “We are beginning to have a rethink on this issue. For all we care, Prof Soyombo who is the acting VC is not part of the crisis. He has only a 6-month tenure. It is better to even allow him to settle down quickly so that we can begin to strategize on who becomes the next VC”
Also speaking in the same vein, Prof Olowe, who was Asuu branch Chairman during the period, 2005 to 2010, confirmed that given the unblemished personality of the acting VC, many senior academics in UNILAG Senate are closing ranks and are gradually backing off from their previous stance.
The former Head of Finance Department disclosed that many Professors are now better enlightened that the key issues involved bothered on alleged corruption and not any power tussle in the Council.
Wale Babalakin, Pro-Chancellor
Olowe said: “What is happening now is because corruption allegation is involved, everybody is being careful. If I am in that position of VC, the good option was to have stepped aside and allow the Council to carry out its investigation without using my position to influence their judgement. there’s no way you will not influence the outcome.
“There is no way a sitting VC with all his powerful clout would not affect thorough investigation. And if he is innocent, there is no reason to be afraid. That’s the proper thing to do. He should allow the process to go on and defend his good name.
“Yes, i am a key figure in ASUU. But this is a corruption case we are talking about here. They all know that I am principled. Everybody knows this on campus. A lot of the lecturers have calmed down. They agree with my position. Nobody can dispute my position.
Jubilant crowd of staff at Senate House on Wednesday
But we need to tell ourselves the truth. I am part of ASUU and I am part of Senate. When it comes to corruption cases, ASUU cannot help anybody.”
He argued that the premises on which ASUU and the Senate predicated their resolutions were fatally wrong as the Union cannot defend any Senate meeting holding during its current strike while no Senate could have met without its principal officers.
“As things stand today, the only person who can call a meeting of Senate is Prof Soyombo. He holds the key to peace in UNILAG. Anything short of this is illegality”, he stressed.
Acting VC, Prof Omololu Soyombo
Prof Olowe also justified the decision of the Governing Council on all fronts, insisting that the Babalakin-led Council followed due process.
He stated: “The Babalakin Council has done the right thing. Their decisions are 100% correct. Very correct. That man Babalakin was very intelligent in handling the situation. No matter what people say about him.
“He has given them queries since 2018 and patiently waited for their responses. He has read the University Act.
“The man knows what he is doing. He followed due process. He is a lawyer. He is a SAN. The man followed a process that I like. In this university they have never followed that process. He started the investigation in 2019. He set up a Panel of Inquiry and instituted a Council committee to investigate finances.
“And he made them face a Council Disciplinary Committee.They responded to the query. It’s been a long process. They followed the due process, the truth is just that the decision didn’t favour us in ASUU. We must protect the interest of the University. We cannot allow the ship of UNILAG to sink.”
Also yesterday, more and many more unions and concerned interest groups have continued to demonstrate support for the acting Vice–Chancellor, whom they tasked to courageously trudge on with his leadership.
Among these groups are the Senior Staff Association of Universities(SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union NASU), both of which dissociated their unions from collaborating with ASUU. They instead pledged to cooperate with Prof Soyombo to effectively steer the ship of the university out of the present crisis.
On campus yesterday, the acting Vice–Chancellor arrived the Senate House to a thunderous ovation when he held a meeting with a crowd of staff.
Prof Soyombo assured that he would hit the ground running to tackle immediate challenges having to do with staff welfare and other matters.
