A Concerned Islamic Rights Group has berated the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka over his parochial interest on who becomes the next VC of the premier University.
The group in a statement noted that Prof. Olayinka through his attitude has deliberately paved ways for another Christian to emerge as the VC by frustrating the aspirations of other aspirants who are Muslims.
The three Muslims among those vying for UI VC are Prof Abideen Adeyinka Aderinto, Prof. Lawal Babatunde Salako and Prof Taofik Kolapo Amzat.
The group says:
”What is strange in the current process is the deep involvement of the outgoing VC. He has deliberately promoted ethnicity and religion in the contest. Several clannish groups have started addressing press conferences to drum support for their ethnic origins. The most delicate one is the campaign along religious affiliations”.
“The e-voting strategy is being manipulated by the VC to garner advantage for his preferred candidate, the current Deputy VC Administration”.
There was an election to select congregation representatives at Senate and the results were quite astonishing. Out of a list of 152, only 2 are Muslims. The plan to oppress Muslims and prevent any of the Muslim candidates especially Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto from occupying the VC seat was perfected through the e- voting manipulation to produce a pre-determined result.
“The manipulated and predetermined e-voting result in the university has clandestinely eliminated Muslims from the highest academic body where important decisions are taken”
“We think and believe that this should interest all lovers of justice and equal rights. This was never the case before and has never been so in the University of Ibadan , but the current powers that be have vowed to suppress Islam and Muslims. This has the potential for throwing up inter religious crises which had long been suppressed in the university”
“It is on record that most of the supporters of the outgoing VC in 2015 were Muslims. They supported him even against a strong Muslim contender. Sadly however, the ongoing process in UI has been conceived to favor a particular candidate.
“We are hereby calling on the Federal Government to intervene now as a matter of urgency before crises break out.
“The congregation election should be investigated and set aside. The VC should be prevented from using the electronic voting for the remaining election because it is no longer trustworthy and credible,” the group said.
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