A Clarion Call for Senator Monday Okpebholo to Rescue AAU from Institutional Collapse
The Telegraph newspaper recently reported the controversial appointment of Otunba Mike Aladenika by the Special Intervention Team (SIT) of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, as Chairman, Head of Corporate Communications on July 23, 2023. It is pertinent to state, unequivocally, that such a position has no legal or statutory foundation within the Ambrose Alli University Scheme of Service or within the extant regulations governing appointments and promotions.
During the tenure of His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, the SIT—comprising individuals widely regarded by stakeholders as lacking institutional legitimacy and moral standing—was used as a political instrument to assert external control over the university. It was under this questionable framework that Mr. Aladenika was allegedly appointed through non-transparent and irregular processes.
Ironically, the same Mr. Aladenika, who at the height of his benefaction publicly praised the SIT and defended its activities with zeal, has now taken to the media to vilify and denounce the very body that installed him. This volte-face has left observers perplexed, as it reveals a troubling absence of ideological conviction and public accountability. As the Scripture rightly declares, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).
Stakeholders within and beyond the university community are of the firm opinion that Mr. Aladenika must desist from using the university’s communication platform as a vehicle for personal aggrandizement and political propaganda. A university is a sacred citadel for scholarship, research, and leadership development—not a theater for media manipulation and self-promotion.
In what amounts to a tacit admission of systemic failure, Mr. Aladenika recently confirmed the protests that erupted at the university gate—sparked by examination irregularities and chaos in the ICT test administration system. Annexures from the Chairman of the Committee on Business Examinations (CBE), Professor Oniawa C., substantiate these serious breaches. Additionally, the campus has deteriorated physically—overrun by weeds, reptiles, and neglect—a vivid metaphor for the collapse of governance in the institution.
Even more disturbing is the absentee leadership style of the current Vice-Chancellor, who is reportedly away from campus for no fewer than twelve days each month. This chronic absence is a gross dereliction of duty, incompatible with the expectations of public office.
Moreover, the University Governing Council is facing widespread criticism from staff unions and stakeholders for its failure to conduct transparent and credible interviews for key positions, including that of the Vice-Chancellor. Of particular concern is the appointment of Mr. Imawagbele Peter—reportedly a close associate of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Onimawo—as University Auditor, despite the fact that the position was never advertised. Multiple letters of protest by university unions to the Chairman of the Council, Chief Dan Orbih, were met with silence—a clear dereliction of responsibility and an affront to due process.
While the recent intervention and funding commitment from the Edo State Government is commendable, such efforts will remain insufficient unless accompanied by structural reforms and the removal of unqualified and politically compromised individuals from sensitive positions. As the Preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes 10:5–6: “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.”
Therefore, we the undersigned—speaking on behalf of the staff, students, and concerned stakeholders of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma—issue a heartfelt and urgent appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State, to exercise his constitutional and moral responsibility in rescuing the institution from total collapse. We strongly urge the immediate reconstitution of the university’s leadership with credible, competent, and reform-minded individuals—men and women who do not possess the spirit of Pharaoh, but are led by the spirit of service and righteousness.
Let this generation not be remembered as the one that watched silently while Ambrose Alli University declined into irrelevance and regression. As Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Your Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, we congratulate you and the good people of Edo State on your well-deserved Supreme Court victory. We pray that God grants you the wisdom to separate yourself from the influence of evil men and women, to remember those who stood with you from the beginning, and to courageously reposition the state—especially the educational sector.
May wisdom, courage, and divine guidance rest continually upon you, our listening governor, as we collectively strive to restore the lost glory of this once-great institution.
Signed:
Harry Ebosele Pedro Iyamu
Concerned Stakeholder — Staff and Students
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
Aluta Continua — Victory is Certain
