COOU Crisis: Osegbue Dismisses Purported Sack As Diversionary
Prof. Chike Osegbue, a top candidate for the Vice Chancellor position at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University has described his alleged sack as phony and an unnecessary distraction from the real issues plaguing the university.
Osegbue, a professor of Political Economics and Development Studies who spoke to journalists in Awka on Sunday said he was not aware of his dismissal as he had not been formally communicated.
Recall that a report which circulated during last weekend purported that the University Council had sacked Osegbue after its inaugural meeting on June 12.
The top VC candidate said to the best of his knowledge, he was suspended on the basis of ‘fabricated’ allegations not teaching a postgraduate course, PSC 811: Environmental Politics and Sustainable Development.
and administering examinations on the students in question.
But Osegbue had earlier responded that there was no wrongdoing on his part as there were no students available to be taught the course during the period in question because they were admitted few days before examinations commenced.
The Don told journalists that purported sack was a ploy to divert attention from the alleged irregularity in the appointment of the current Vice Chancellor who finished fifth after the selection process over him who was first placed.
He said the matter was already in court and sacking the Pro Chancellor or himself would not legitimise the appointment for which he was in court with the Visitor and Vice Chancellor.
“I am not aware I have been sacked, I was illegally suspended in January for three months which was later extended by the person whom I am on court with over her appointment allegedly for not teaching a course to Msc Students.
“We contested the position of the Vice Chancellor and I came first, I was recommended by the Council to the Visitor but the Visitor appointed her came fifth, this was in August last year.
*So I went to court to seek interpretation of some relevant sections of the law and we have been in court for three times but each time they come with frivolous motions that makes the court adjourn, so they are buying time, I will not dwell on that,” he said.
Osegbue said the recently inaugurated Council which purportedly sacked him did not have the full complement of the components which included government appointees and elected representatives of Senate, Congregation and convocation as provided by the University law.
“As it stands today, what the University has is an improperly constituted council with only government appointees and Senate representatives even though the government appointees were reappointed against the University law.
“They are just in a hurry to bury the issues and twist the narrative but justice shall prevail,” he said.
