By Femi Akinropo
The attention of the University Management has been brought to a series of misinformations, many of which allegedly aimed at instigating the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) society against the Vice-Chancellor.
Contrary to some abhorrent informations flying around, we wish to state unequivocally that, the Vice-Chancellor was never in any way whatsoever (directly or indirectly) responsible for the restrictions of our muslim brothers and sisters from attending Jumaah prayers. While the Vice-Chancellor acknowledges that it is the constitutional right of members of staff that are muslims to exercise their religious franchise on Fridays, we condemn in totality some mischievous and virulent informations that are being broadcasted/transmitted by some unscrupulous elements within the University, many of whom chose to prioritize blackmail over translucent conscience by hypocritically toeing a series of traitorous paths encapsulated in prejudice, deceitfulness, prevarication and assassination of character.
The University Management wishes to clarify incontrovertibly that, the Vice-Chancellor is not the sole determinant when it comes to fixing meetings and inaugural lectures. There are other committee members that are saddled with the responsibility of deliberating over events as they unfold, hence, the Vice-Chancellor cannot unilaterally fix a meeting without unanimously agreeing with other commitee members.
We are however astonished upon seeing how some unknown elements came up with ambivalent stories that were determinedly preconceived, sold same to MURIC, with the ultimate aim of disparaging the Vice-Chancellor ad hominem to the public. We wish to reiterate emphatically that, those anonymous slanderers spoke ad lib and by doing so, they have not only flouted one of the sacrosanct ethos upon which * the congregation * is established – an order which mandates all member to keep confidentially all the happenings in meetings without divulging to a third party, but they also chose to exhibit chauvinism despondently, all for indecorous gratifications.
We wish to assert vehemently that, majority of those unknown elements capitalized on the fact that, those buying their lies would only be privileged to listen to one-sided stories without recourse to the other party. Thus , they ignorantly hid under the whims and caprices of inscience to vommit a series of disreputable and scurrilous brouhahas they cannot even substantiate against the Vice-Chancellor . By displaying such a level of animosity against the Vice-Chancellor, it is obvious that, some breeds of haters and some resentful individuals masquerading as members of staff, are resilient and determined to tarnish the virtuous name the Vice-Chancellor has been courteously protecting for over six decades.
It is important to note that, the Vice-Chancellor is an amiable person and his mannerisms toward staff and students are devoid of religious affiliations. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), professor Tajudeen Opoola and the University Registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim , are both muslims. The Vice-Chancellor has a very good working and personal relationships with the duo among many others. The University has a lot of Deans, Heads of Departments and Directors that are muslims , and none has ever been a victim of witch-hunting by the Vice-Chancellor.
Going further, the Muslim Community in FUOYE which comprises muslim staff and students have been enjoying a cordial relationship with the Vice-Chancellor without any hitch. They have unrestricted access to the office of the Vice-Chancellor, and his magnanimity towards the development of the earlier-mentioned associations since he came on board as the Vice-Chancellor had brought unprecedented developments to them, with muslim staff and students as the primary beneficiaries.
On the issue that happened at the last congregation meeting, the Vice-Chancellor’s speech and discussions were clearly spelt out, and all was devoid of mischief and malignity. At the end of the meeting, members of staff enthusiastically consolidated the brave decisions of the Vice-Chancellor by ecstatically sending a series of rapturous reverberation into the atmosphere. It is therefore disheartening and asinine to hearing after it was confirmed that some members of staff decided to fabricate some lies against the Vice-Chancellor despite not witnessing any disruptive event at the meeting.
The Vice-Chancellor is a law-abiding citizen and he knows the philosophical ideals upon which his office is entrenched. Again, he doesn’t abuse the power of his office by infringing on the rights of others because he knows the jurisdictions of his office doesnt empower him to act indiscriminately. Consequently, we make bold to declare in affirmative terms that, the Vice-Chancellor never restricted anyone from attending Jumaah prayers on the day being referenced by some elements that are hell-bent on tarnishing the image of the Vice-Chancellor, and also intend using the opportunity to disrupt the peace and stability the University has been witnessing under the present administration.
We wish to reiterate that, the University Management is committed to developing an egalitarian society for all members of staff and students, and it will continue to amplify its achievements for the betterment of the University community and Nigeria at large.
Unfortunately, despite FUOYE being named as one of the best as well as the most sought-after University in Nigeria, a positive development which wouldn’t have emanated but for the relentless and unwavering efforts of the Vice-Chancellor and his team, the University Management is overly gobsmacked after seeing some fallacious articles emanating from some media outlets, egregiously alleging the Vice-Chancellor of disenfranchising Muslims from attending Jumaah prayers. We strongly condemn this perceived malfeasance aimed at demeaning the Vice-Chancellor – a pathetic development that can easily jeopardize the peace the University is currently enjoying if misconstrued by the stakeholders in the University.
Instead of some bloggers camouflaging as journalists to remain incommunicado to the public and desist from publishing such unverified news until evidences that could be proven beyond all reasonable doubt are gathered, and also start by digging (professionally) empirical facts to back their assertions, they decided to be scandalous and nasty in their approach. They bastardized with unfathomable preferential treatments, the ethics of journalism. Their actions could only be compared with that of Samballat, Geshem and Tobias, because they merrily carried out a series of mephistophelian objectives that were premeditatedly motivated without carrying out their own investigations.
We urge the rumor mongers and gossipers that are parading themselves as members of staff to desist from actions that can set the University on fire. Instead of collaborating with some people that don’t prioritize the interest of the University, thereby sabotaging the peace and the development of the institution, we urge them to support the University Management led by the Vice-Chancellor to taking FUOYE to a greater height.
FUOYE will continue to uphold the tenets of good justice and wouldn’t be discouraged by this act of blackmail against its morals .
Thank you.