By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—Benin National Congress, BNC, a socio-cultural organization in Edo State, has given those challenging the emergence of Professor Osayuki Oshodin as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) seven days within which to retract the statement published in a national daily discrediting his selection process or face the wrath of the Binis.

The group described the authors of the publication as anti-Binis
Professor Oshodin is the first Bini Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN since its establishment 39 years ago .

In a statement signed by its Vice-President, Omowemwen Imadiyi and Secretary General, Osaze Erhiamatoe, the group posited that the author was ignorant of the screening process through which Professor Oshodin emerged as the vice-chancellor, adding that the statement was a fresh attempt to ignite crisis in the university.

According to the group, “it is very clear that the activities of fifth columnists provoked the Benin National Congress to stage a procession on the 7 September 2009 at UNIBEN to protest the perceived and real enemies of due process in the countdown to the selection of a substantive VC for the institution.

“The Governing Council, led by Dr Tobi, conscientiously and thoroughly organized the screening process and found Prof. O. G. Oshodin to be first, the best and most credible candidate, hence he was declared by consensus as the vice chancellor-elect.

“It is, therefore, an embarrassing situation where some people maliciously frame tissues of lies with a view to painting the towering image of the University of Benin VC in bad light.

“This is, to say the least, an unprovoked attack against the sensibilities of the Binis who have patiently waited, in the face of glaring marginalization, for forty years of being a host community to UNIBEN before producing its first indigenous vice chancellor.”

“To portray Prof. Obaseki-Eboh as the winner of the screening exercise is the cheapest and hallowed blackmail of the year 2010; and a futile attempt to cast aspersion on the indefatigable integrity of the chairman and members of the university’s governing council.”

The BNC commended the Oba of Benin, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Mr Iyobosa Edebiri for their firm position that due process must be followed in choosing a substantive Vice-Chancellor for the university.