By Emeka Ifeanyi
(nkeemerejuoyi@gmail.com)
In the Bible, Pharaoh is the title given to the rulers of ancient Egypt. The most well-known Pharaohs in the Bible are: The Pharaoh who enslaved the Israelites (Exodus 1:8-14) and the Pharaoh who refused to let the Israelites go, leading to the ten plaques (Exodus 5-12).
Another, Pharaoh is the one who chased the Israelites out of Egypt, but drowned in the Red Sea as recorded in Exodus 14.
Relevant Bible quotations as regards to the over zealousness of the Vice Chancellor of the Imo State University ( IMSU) Owerri, Professor Uchehara U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, who thinks that being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has made him to become a demi -god.
“Let my people go, that they may serve me” according to Exodus 8:1; Chukwumaeze should just let the students he is frustrating to let go and become useful to their various families and the society at large. He should know that he is not the only father that knows what would be good for his children. Other parents are desirous to see their kids or wards become Lawyers and Medical Doctors like he wishes his children become.
“The Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the people of Israel” (Exodus 9:4). In this quotation,the antics and wicked acts of Professor Chukwumaeze can’t make the ambition of the students he frustrated to die. Never!!!. And what belongs to the students must be taken by them, if not now then later.
And he should know that as the Lord drowned the Pharaoh’s chariots and his Army in the sea, so shall he be drowned in shame, confusion and in anguish too. This must surely come to past. That is the word of God.
“Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he cast into the sea, his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea” (Exodus 15:4).
Chukwumaeze as his surname implies should be aware that it is only God that would make anyone the King and no human being, irrespective of his or her position now shall stop it. He is in the position today to put confusions, chaos and tears in families, he would definitely not be their tomorrow when they will rejoice.
He can’t destroy the destinies of the other children and expect miracles or good things to happen in his own family.
The recent claims by the Vice chancellor of the Imo State University, Owerri that some students hacked into the portal or website of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a fairy tale and an information fabricated to deceive the public. When did he become the spokesman of JAMB as to have alleged their website was hacked? The only time the JAMB announced that her website was hacked were in 2009 and 2012 respectively and it was further informed, that the fraudsters spend a whooping Twenty Million Naira(N20m) for that.
The truth of the matter was that the JAMB forwarded to his office names of successful students to be confirmed as the students of the Imo State University, Owerri, rather than do the needful, he resorted to publishing those names on newspapers and announcing their names on radio stations making frivolous allegations and putting confusions everywhere.
He is claiming that students were duped by some individuals in the JAMB and one wonders why he should be the one taking drugs for the headache of another who has the symptoms?
Vice chancellor Chukwumaeze should be cautioned as to the after effect of his actions as many students who are frustrated may resort to violence. Others who are weak and can’t stand the disappointments may decide to commit suicide, even as many may take to various degrees of crimes.
One wonders why he is interested in indicting his predesssors by asking the affected students to write petitions against them since they were in charge when the admissions were gotten. Till date, after the inglorious order, Chukwumaeze and some Deans of Faculties have been confirming some affected students according to their pockets. Information has it that parents and students are paying between N500, 000 and N1.5m for their kids to be confirmed by IMSU. There were candidates who got the required marks to study in the Imo State University Owerri. Let the authorities verify my claims.
What does Chukwumaeze really want? He should stopped already and abate this his act of tomfoolery. The directive is victimizing as some female students who couldn’t afford to pay them have taken to finding their ways into the examinations halls after being dehumanized with sex by the school’s hierarchy.
Information has it that some students have taken the bold steps to stop this abnormally. The recent visit to the Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Chike Olemgbe led by one Emeka Don Uba was a right step in a right direction. Glad that they were not greedy with their requests when the visited the Imo state House Assembly Owerri on Wednesday 24, 2024 rather, they made their appeal on behalf of the over 3000 affected students who are mostly from the Law Faculty and Colleges Of Health Sciences of the institution. What a beautiful thing to hear.
It is behoved on the members of the Imo State House of Assembly to act accordingly by calling Professor Chukwumaeze to order in the overall interest of the state. The house members should also note that most of their constituents are involved in this matter and they should stand up for them at this trying period. Rusticating over 3000 students unnecessarily won’t be helpful to the state as it would dealt with the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. I believe he is trying to divert the attention of the Imo State Government under the leadership of Distinguished Senator hope Uzodinma, CON over the alleged financial misappropriations under his watch in the institution. Recently, some of the staff of the institution were arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) whereby a whooping N66m was discovered in the bank account of a staff. It was informed that the Vice Chancellor has swept the investigations of the ICPC under the carpet as prosecuting the staff and others would indict him. Government of Imo State and the Imo State House of Assembly are advised to delve in and conduct more investigations on the issues raised.
Chukwumaeze should be cautioned to stop dropping the name of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, CON as the architect of the inglorious policy. If not what would it cost him to just key in the names of the students into the institution’s portal and make revenue for the school and for the state. What would he gain if he rusticates over 3000 students for no fault of theirs?
What would be his gain now many families are in anger and gnashing of teeth over an unnecessary policy and act of wickedness. He should just swallow his pride and rescind the decision.
Since the coming of Professor Chukwumaeze as the Vice chancellor, the diginity of the institution has nose-dived to zero. Indecent dressings have become the order of the day. Intimidation of students and staff are on the increase. The environment is nothing to write home about as grasses have taken over all places. Odour oozes out from all angles since there is no habitable conveniences. Uncompleted projects littered every where as he has abandoned them to chase shadows. There have been increase in victimization of Academic staff and Non Academic staff in the university. Lack of proper renumeration of staff, antagonism, wickedness and inappropriate learning and office environments.
In fact, he only brings to the table personal things he would only benefit during Senate meetings. Insiders have it that he never gives room to members of the Senate to speak, but to his lackeys like Professor Chimezie Kingsley Okorie, SAN, the dean Faculty of Law and indigine of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State who would not opposite him. Okorie is said to be victimizing students of the Law faculty an act he can’t replicate in Abia State University Uturu his home institution where the present Imo State University emanated from. He said to be making the so called regularization to the highest bidders. The authorities should verify.
The school management should focus on issues that will bring about everlasting solutions to the many challenges facing the school and not persuading students to write petitions against his predesssors and his successor as Dean in the Faculty of Law.
It doesn’t stop there, insecurity is on the increase as the school is prone to filtration by criminals and cultists. The security in the school can’t even boast of a stick or machete since he came on board as the Vice Chancellor. His appointment can be deduced to ” E mee onye Iberibe conductor, ya e fegburu onwe ya n’aka”. He has become nothing but disaster and has resorted to deceiving the Governor of Imo State into believing his antics.
Chukwumaeze was Dean Faculty of Law for years and he admitted students too to the Faculty of Law. Can he let us know how he faired? Information has it too that he gave admissions to law students even without JAMB admission letters. The IMHA should also verify this information.
However, it is has become important that the Imo State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgent public importance, direct Professor Chukwumaeze to return to status quo and to reset exams for the students he stopped from taking their last second semester examinations and in the on going first semester examinations in the Law Faculty. He should not stop the affected students who would be commencing their examinations in other faculties as from Tuesday April 30, 2024. Imo is our own and I can bet with my life that non of the Management staff of the institution is comfortable with his actions, except Professor Okorie. His anger is necessitated by the inability of some students to pay the sum of N100, 000 for the so called regularization/ confirmation.
For the records, The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was established by the Act (No. 2 of 1978) of the Federal Military Government on February 13, 1978. The board was given the authority to Conduct matriculation exams for entry into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, Appoint examiners, moderators, invigilators, and other personnel for matriculation exams
Again, the JAMB Places suitably qualified candidates in tertiary institutions based on available vacancies, guidelines, and candidate’s preferences and also Collect and disseminate information on admissions to tertiary institutions.
Furthermore, the JAMB carries out other activities necessary for the full discharge of its functions.
The above is just to let us know that it is the JAMB that has the sole or statutory right or authority to admit her candidates into their preferred institutions and not even the various public universities, Polythecnics and Colleges of Education all over the country.
This shows that no public institution can reject any candidate sent to them by JAMB, according to the established law, the duty of universities is to collect acceptance fees and other necessary fees from the students. Chukeumaeze as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria should know all these. Professor U. U. Chukwumaeze should listen to the voices of reason to avoid going the Pharoah’s if Egypt way.
Nothing more nothing less. Simple and Short.
Emeka Ifeanyi is a Journalist and writes from Amaifeke Orlu and can be contacted with his email address above.