A group, Benin Development Union (BeDU) at the weekend called for the de-emphasising of ethnic considerations as basis for the choice of the vice chancellor (VC) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), rather it should be thrown open for the best brains to drive the process, saying that, tribal consideration is no longer fashionable.
This was contained in a statement signed by the director of Media and Publicity, Benin Development Union (BEDU), Dr Franklin Omorowa Ikuobase and made available to journalists in Benin.
He said the association is never against any region contesting for the position of vice chancellor at the university, noting that the era of championing tribal jingoists has passed especially in an institution of learning where the best brain is said to be the one leading the change for a better society.
“We do not take for granted the astute cooperation of professors and stakeholders of other ethnic or tribal orientations, in the ensuing peace and tranquility in the last 15 years that the vestige of honour was bequeathed in professors of Benin academic community to manage the ivory tower.
“As a socio-cultural intelligentsia, our preoccupation in the ongoing succession process, is an unwavering demand for competence, character and capacity as the irreducible minimums for the would-be VC designate, as the varsity desires a deconstructive narrative from any cleavage of tribal jingoism.
“As a host community organisation, we want to see a vice chancellor who can aggressively path-find a blend between pro-education private sector operators and the sharp-wittedness of the academic and non-academic personnel of the ivory tower.
“So, we want to see a phase in the institution’s life where automobiles, drones, technological chips and other forms of contemporary technical breakthroughs will be periodically exhibited, as a result of rapid productivity in science and technological grooming of Nigerian students.
“We want to see a phase in which the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other industrial hub agents would make UNIBEN a destination for agricultural and medical equipment manufacturing.
“The vast landmass of the university should reflect in improved aggregation of a variety of products for domestic consumption or export dividends.
“These desirable transformations can only emanate from a competence, character and capacity proof selection process, and not from anyone or a group of tribal jingoists.
“To this end, we respectfully proclaim that, anyone dropping the name of our socio-cultural group, as though we have endorsed him based on tribal affiliation should be totally rejected, as such a candidate’s aspiration runs a-mock to aims and objectives of university of Benin host community stakeholders”.
