… Says he made Anyaehie, Speaker a small boy
By Emeka Ifeanyi
Following the ongoing crisis rocking the Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri over admissions, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ugonna Uchefula Chukwumaeze, SAN, has allegedly thrown caution to the wind by berating the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly,IMHA, Owerri, Rt.Hon.Chike Olemgbe by calling him a small boy without higher education, even while he also alleged, that, Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie, who graduated as a lawyer in IMSU with first class was his boy, saying, Anyaehie can’t twart his decision regarding his laying off of over 3000 students of the institution, alleging, the have fake admission letters from the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB).
This was even as the affected students have at at different times appealled to him to rescind the decision, but the Vice Chancellor had remained adamant to their appeals.
Information has it that, the students later wrote a letter to the Senate of the Institution last March 23, 2024 appealing to the Senate to reconsider her decision to lay off the affected students but, nothing came out of it.
The letter said to be signed by Uba, Don Emeka, Njoku Peace and Mirikweh Ikem on behalf of the affected students which was duely acknowledged by the institution was never read at the Senate meeting till date.
A reliable source informed this medium that Professor Chukwumaeze, the Vice Chancellor received the letter and trashed it thereafter, without bringing it up for debate or for consideration at the Senate meeting.
It was further alleged, he was aware that majority of the Institution’s Senate would override his decision having done that earlier without the consent of the institution’s Senate.
In lieu of that, the students, later wrote to the Imo State House Of Assembly, appealing to them to speak to the Vice Chancellor over their challenges, adding, his decision has affected many students whose parents borrowed money to see them through all the years in the university.
The letter said to be delivered to the House since April 23, 2024 was said to have not been discussed at the chambers.
Though, some of the lawmakers, it was revealed, have spoken to the Vice Chancellor over the issue, but he has vehemently neglected to act accordingly.
Furthermore, a very close source to Professor Chukwumaeze, said he wouldn’t listen to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olemgbe, describing him as “a small boy who was not educated”, just as he allegedly boasted, that the Chief of Staff to the Government of Imo State, Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie would dare not challenge his decision as according to our source, “made Anyaehie what he is today”, bragging, he wouldn’t have become a lawyer without him.
However, the Head of Media/ Communications, Imo State Comrades Council, (ICC), Sir Ifeanyi Edward, ksji, has called on the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma and members of the Imo State House of Assembly to call the Vice Chancellor, Professor Chukwumaeze to order as his decision would heighten insecurity in the state.
He said, that, the frustrated students may resort to violence and other kinds of crime, if they were not in school.
“This is really devastating seeing one who had spent between two and five years out of school for allegedly studying over the years with fake admission letters.
At what point in time did Chukwumaeze realized that the students were admitted into the school with fake admission letters after receiving various fees and Levies at all all levels from the students overs the years? He asked rhetorically.
Furthermore, Sir Edward said, the Chukwumaeze’s decision would resort to insecurity in the land and cautioned on the dangers inherent on the actions of the Vice Chancellor.
He also revealed authoritatively that the students once led a delegation to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, pointing out, Chukwumaeze also neglected the advice of Chief Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ndi Igbo to recall the students last February 2024.
Speaking on this issue, Sir Ralph Njoku-Obi described the story as totally false and warned the public to leave the school alone.
“You people should leave us alone and let us be. Leave us alone. The Vice Chancellor can never make such statements against those in the Government”, Njoku-Obi, who is the Head, Media/ Deputy Registrar of the Institution fumed.