President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened in the leadership crisis rocking the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile – Ife.
The President has directed the varsity senate to immediately appoint an acting vice chancellor for the institution. This means the appointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ayobami Salami, for the position has been revoked.
This is according to a statement from the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie.
“President directs reopening of all offices in OAU for normal administrative and academic activities.” the statement added.
OAU authorities had shut the university in June following protests by workers over the appointment of Salami as the new vice chancellor by the governing council.
When contacted, OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju has this to say:
“What really happened is that the Federal Government announced the dissolution of the governing council and also instructed that the processes that may lead to the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor be put on hold, pending the determination of the court case; and the follow-up to that is what the Federal Government did today by telling us that the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, should immediately recommend a qualified person for appointment as an acting vice chancellor for the university. That is where we are now.
