UNIZIK Warns Against Fabrication And Falsehood Circulating Regarding VC Appointment
UNIZIK management has warned those it described as mischief makers against “obvious fabrication and falsehood” about the race for the vice chancellorship of the institution
Nnenna Orji 
The management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state has warned those it described as mischief makers against “obvious fabrication and falsehood” about the race for the vice chancellorship of the institution, and to stop meddling in the affairs of the school, “as they’re trying to cause confusion.”
The reaction followed an article by Mr. Matthew Ugwuadi that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and two political parties were enmeshed in a battle of who to appoint as the incoming vice chancellor (VC) of the institution.
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In a statement yesterday in Awka, the former director of information of the institution and now the Special Adviser to the current VC, Dr. Emma Ojukwu, described such statement as the handiwork of fifth columnists.
In his words: “The attention of Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been drawn to an obvious fabrication and falsehood being circulated by fifth columnists and opportunists about the race for the vice chancellorship of UNIZIK.
“In this intentionally fabricated falsehood, the fictitious writers concocted figments of their imagination as truth to deceive the public. The university will like to state as follows: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is a federal university funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
“The procedure for who emerges the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is contained in a template outlined and issued by the Federal Ministry of Education.
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“Based on these criteria, the Governing Council of the University and the University Senate jointly interview and appoint the most suitably qualified candidate following the Federal Government issued guidelines, which are always strictly followed
“Therefore, it is surprising that these merchants of falsehood will allege that candidates are being sponsored by political parties (the PDP and APGA) for extraneous reasons.
“Let it be stated that it is the Federal Government through its due processes that will determine who becomes the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK.
“The current Vice Chancellor, Prof Charles Okechukwu Esimone, has performed well by lifting the university to an enviable height.
“The Vice Chancellor has no right under the existing university law to appoint a successor or even influence the outcome of this race as this is the work of the Governing Council of the University.
“Therefore, the insinuation that the Vice Chancellor is supporting a particular candidate is untrue.
"The Vice Chancellor believes that who will succeed him after he completes his five-year tenure in early June 2024 is in the hands of God and he has always said publicly that the best should emerge.
“Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka condemns this treacherous attempt to drag the name of this great university to the mud by these fictitious opportunists.
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“It also condemns any further attempt to unnecessarily overheat the temperature of the university and cause anxiety among peace-loving workers and students of the university.
“The university management commends the Federal Government under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the remarkable efforts being made to improve the lot of universities in Nigeria, especially with regard to the welfare of workers and students.”
