By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, has secured endorsement of 25 civil society organisations in her quest to emerge substantive vice chancellor.

Recall that Prof. Maikudi is among 40 other professors that applied for the position of vice chancellor. The position became vacant following expiration of the tenure of outcome vice chancellor, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah.

The CSOs, operating under the aegis of Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development declared their support for the acting vice chancellor during a rally at the university’s permanent site in Abuja yesterday.

Dr Wisdom Ohalete Chinedu,who spoke on behalf of the group, described Prof. Maikudi as the best among the 40 candidates aspiring for the position.

The group said Maikudi’s leadership qualities while serving as both the deputy vice chancellor and acting vice chancellor took the university to greater heights, indicating that the school would be safer in her hands as substantive vice chancellor.

The group bemoaned protest by a section of some professors against her candidacy, noting that their claim that the acting vice chancellor is not qualified for the position is false.

“We find the qualification allegation very strange, unbelievable and distracting. This is so because Prof. Aisha Maikudi has served meritoriously as a Deputy Vice Chancellor, a position that has almost equal qualifications as Vice Chancellor yet not challenged by anyone then, the same person here is also the current Acting Vice Chancellor, it is therefore baffling that same person who is a sitting Vice Chancellor in acting capacity could suddenly become unqualified for a position she’s still holding, “the group said.

The group’s prepared text, released to the media, read in part:”The twenty five member Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development after painstaking interrogations, independent investigations and review of the leadership crisis that have engulfed the University of Abuja over the jostle for the position of Vice Chancellor, wishes to present our report and recommendations to the public as already sent to the Minister of Education for immediate action.

“We wish to express our deepest disappointment that the almost recurrent chaotic selection process of Vice Chancellor in the university of Abuja has roared its ugly presence this time again. It will be recalled that the same scenario played out during the appointment of the erstwhile Vice Chancellor, Prof Adelabu which our recommendation to the then Minister of Education saved the situation and restored peace to the institution.

“We recall also with nostalgia, our role in the appointment of the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, we are therefore bold to state unequivocally that we are familiar with the trend of leadership selection succession in the citadel of learning in also two decades now and have adopted same method for the current crisis being orchestrated by a political vested interest among the ranks of professors in the institution.

“We wish to begin by expressing unequivocally, our frustration and disappointment over the recent protest by professors from University of Abuja over the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor in the institution, describing it as absurdity and a direct attack on due process, betrayal of their experience and direct assault on the globally demanded agenda to have more women and youths in leadership. “

The group alleged that the protest against Maikudi’s candidacy is a sponsored exercise by individuals who have vested interest in the system and are resistant to change.

“We hold very strongly and in unmistakable term that Prof Aisha Maikudi among all the applicants for the job of Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja is the most qualified and the closest person to the job and should be immediately announced as substantive Vice Chancellor, having served as Deputy Vice Chancellor of the institution and currently acting Vice Chancellor of the same school

“We demand that President Bola Tinubu through the Minister of Education, wades into the ensuing crisis and give needed protection for the acting Vice Chancellor who is obviously a victim of ethnic gangup, political orchestration and desperate power mongers in the University of Abuja, to stop those who are desperately attempting to ridicule his efforts in getting youths and women involved in leadership, maintaining that women have so much to offer in raising the bar of national development.

“We demand that the Nigeria Police invite trouble makers as espoused in our petition to the force to serve as deterrent to others.

“We demand that the Minister after announcing Prof Aisha Maikudi as recommended by us, should set up a truth and reconciliation panel for post VC tussle era, ” the group added.