Ambrose Alli University in Crisis: Political Hypocrisy, Administrative Failure, and the Urgent Need for Reform
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 imperative to assert, unequivocally, that such a position is alien to the legal and regulatory framework of the Ambrose Alli University Scheme of Service, and is unsupported by any extant statutes or policy documents governing university appointments and promotions.
Under the administration of His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki, the SIT—composed of individuals widely perceived by critical stakeholders as lacking both institutional legitimacy and moral authority—was deployed as a political mechanism to assert external dominance over the university’s internal governance. It was within this irregular structure that Mr. Aladenika was allegedly appointed, in circumstances marked by opacity and procedural irregularities.
In an ironic twist, Mr. Aladenika—who once vociferously defended the SIT and its activities with a level of fervor characteristic of partisan loyalty—has now publicly denounced the same body that elevated him. This sudden reversal has not only baffled observers but also underscores a disturbing absence of ideological consistency and ethical commitment. As the Holy Scriptures declare: “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).
It is the considered opinion of numerous stakeholders—within and outside the university—that Mr. Aladenika must immediately desist from employing the university’s communication apparatus as a tool for personal glorification and political propaganda. A university is a hallowed sanctuary for intellectual inquiry, research, and leadership development—not a platform for opportunistic media manipulation or self-promotion.
In what amounts to an implicit admission of systemic dysfunction, Mr. Aladenika recently acknowledged the outbreak of student protests at the university gate. These were precipitated by widespread examination irregularities and chaos within the ICT-based test administration framework. Documentary evidence from the Chairman of the Committee on Business Examinations (CBE), Professor Oniawa C., substantiates these serious breaches of academic integrity. Concurrently, the physical decay of the campus—engulfed by overgrown vegetation, reptiles, and neglect—stands as a metaphor for the collapse of governance and the erosion of institutional pride.
Even more alarming is the chronic absenteeism of the current Vice-Chancellor, who is reportedly absent from campus for at least twelve days each month. This pattern constitutes a flagrant abdication of duty and is wholly incompatible with the fiduciary obligations expected of any public officeholder entrusted with the stewardship of an academic institution.
Further compounding the crisis is the failure of the University Governing Council to conduct fair, transparent, and credible selection processes for key administrative positions—including that of the Vice-Chancellor. Of particular concern is the appointment of Mr. Imawagbele Peter, allegedly a close associate of the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Onimawo, as University Auditor. This appointment was made despite the fact that the position was never duly advertised, thus violating core tenets of due process and meritocracy. Multiple protest letters from university unions addressed to the Chairman of Council, Chief Dan Orbih, have been met with resounding silence—an egregious dereliction of responsibility and a betrayal of public trust.
In a similarly unlawful appointment, the position of Bursar was conferred upon an individual who is both a relative of the Council Chairman and an academic staff member below the rank of Deputy Bursar, contrary to the requirements outlined in the advertisement for the role. The appointee, currently a temporary staff member, lacks the requisite qualifications and status stipulated by university regulations. Furthermore, the Council Chairman allegedly handpicked professors closely aligned with the former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Onimawo, with the intent of shielding him from accountability, particularly in relation to the damning findings of the visitation panel report.
While the recent financial intervention and policy commitment by the Edo State Government is commendable, such efforts are merely palliative unless undergirded by far-reaching institutional reforms and the immediate removal of unqualified and politically-compromised individuals from sensitive administrative positions. As Ecclesiastes 10:5–6 aptly states: “There is an evil 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.”
Accordingly, we, the undersigned—acting on behalf of the staff, students, and concerned stakeholders of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma—hereby issue a solemn and urgent appeal to His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State, to fulfill both his constitutional mandate and moral duty by intervening decisively in the affairs of the university.
We implore Your Excellency to initiate an immediate overhaul of the university’s leadership and governance architecture. This must include the installation of credible, competent, and reform-oriented individuals—men and women devoid of political baggage and committed to the ideals of scholarship and public service. The times demand leaders not imbued with the spirit of Pharaoh, but governed by a spirit of equity, justice, and truth.
Let this generation not be judged harshly by posterity for standing idle while Ambrose Alli University descended into mediocrity and decay. As Proverbs 29:2 reminds us: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
Your Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your well-deserved Supreme Court victory. May the Almighty imbue you with divine wisdom to distinguish light from darkness, to separate yourself from corrupt influences, to reward those who stood by you, and to reposition Edo State as a beacon of educational excellence and institutional integrity.
May wisdom, courage, and divine guidance rest perpetually upon you, our listening Governor, as we together endeavor to restore the lost glory of Ambrose Alli University.
Signed:
Harry Ebosele Pedro Iyamu
Concerned Stakeholder – Staff and Students
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
Aluta Continua — Victoria Ascerta
