The Outcome of UNILAG Visitation Panel: a Litmus Paper Test on Buhari's Anti-Corruption Stance

by Concerned Stakeholders

Consequent upon the decisive Anti-Corruption drive of the University of Lagos Governing Council to break the logjam occasioned by the unbridled corruption and lawlessness being perpetrated by the management of that inter-peres University of first choice, the Visitor, through the Minister of Education has set up a Visitation Panel to probe the allegations leveled against the management and the circumstances and processes leading to the removal of Professor Ogundipe and the appointment of Professor Soyombo as the Acting Vice Chancellor.

Judging from the Constitution of the Panel, it's body language so far, the appointment of the New Acting Vice Chancellor and the Acting Pro-Chancellor, both of whom have not hidden their support, collaboration and sympathy for the removed Vice Chancellor; it seems the direction of the panel and the Minister, despite claims to the contrary, are quite predictable.

The attitude of the government as perceived so far by stakeholders gives one a lot of concern as regards it's sincerity about it's much talked-about Anti-Corruption drive.

The Yoruba says;

*"Ani ka penupo ka b'olewi, ani ibi toloun fi nkan e si ko dara"*

Meaning: Instead of putting our voices together to roundly condemn the evil of thievery, we are saying the owner of the slolen good should have been more careful.

There is no better way to to licence and embolden the unbridled corruption presently ravaging our Federal Universities, especially, than this hands-in-gloves patting at the back of lawlessness as it is being openly displayed in the ongoing macabre dance at the University of Lagos.

The overwhelming support and collaboration of most members of the academic staff and now seemingly by the Visitor is stupefying, dumfounding and amazing. It is quite befuddling to see the Anti-Corruption government of President Buhari genuflecting in the face of an open and well documented corrupt and lawless activities of the erstwhile management of the University which are all by now in public custody.

Could it be that the government is intimidated by the active and noisy, infact violent, support being given to the ex-Vice Chancellor's alleged misdeamenor/Corrupt practices by ASUU, Senate and the Committee of Vice Chancellors?

The terms of reference of the Visitation Panel even suggest the possible humiliation of Council leadership and membership who are standing by the truth.

Who has done this to us as a nation?

I want to be proved wrong by the Visitor. My intelligence and that of UNILAG Critical and Concerned Stakeholders, hopefully, will not be insulted and denigrated.

The forces of light will certainly not be overcome by that of darkness in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

We have a sure mandate from God to salvage our nation and all her institutions from debauchery and hopelessness and insha Allah, we will overcome.

I hope the Visitor in person of President Muhammad Buhari is reading!

We want to see the true face of Anti-Corruption in this present case at the itvory Tower.

It was Chaucer, who said, while decrying the corruption of the Victorian age:

*"If gold should rust, what will iron do?*

*"If priests (Dons) who are expected to be holy (to lead exemplary lives) are theselves corrupt, what will ordinary men do?"*

I so adopt Chaucer's very words.

The above is my open memoranda to the Visitation Panel.

Thank you.

Alumnus Ayowole Akintayo,
±234 808 218 7145 (calls, sms & whatsApp)

For: The Concerned Stakeholders.

Ki leleyi nso bayii?
What's this one saying?