Confusion as Council reverses Ingwu's appointment as CRUTECH Acting VC

Prof. Emmanuel Unimke Ingwu

There's palpable tension in Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH as the Governing Council of the University has reversed the appointment of Prof. Emmanuel Unimke Ingwu as the Acting Vice Chancellor barely a day after making the announcement.

A member of the governing council who spoke exclusively with Fearless Reports said that the council Chairman, Dr. Emil Inyang who announced the reversal of the appointment said that it was at the behest of the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade who doubles as the Visitor to the University.

The council member who pleaded anonymity said that the new twist was because there's a new law that anybody who assumed the position of the VC in acting capacity will be disqualified from contesting when the position is advertised.

While decrying that there's a big vacuum in the University as there's no leadership, he however added that the governing council has forwarded names of seven Professors including that of Ingwu to the Governor to appoint an Acting VC for two months.

Recall that there have been crisis in the University over who succeed the former VC, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh whose tenure originally expired February this year but had it elongated by two months by the governing council.

Speaking about the reason for Prof. Enoh's tenure extension, the source said that "Three months before the expiration of the tenure of the former VC, the council wrote to the Governor seeking his approval to advertise for the position. He replied through our chairman that he didn't want to combine the politics of Vice Chancellorship with his second term elections and asked that the tenure of the former VC be elongated.

Our thinking was that within the 60s elongated period, the Governor will give approval for us to advertise, conduct interview and recommend three names to him to appoint one as the standard practice, but such approval was never given until yesterday, when Prof. Enoh's extension expired.

In the council's wisdom, to avoid creating any crisis, the Deputy Vc administration, Prof. Ingwu was appointed as Acting VC for two months pending when due process will be followed in appointing a substantive one but the new directive that anybody who acts won't be qualified to apply for the position has led to the reversal of Ingwu's appointment because he has indicated strong interest to contest".

He further averred that "We have forwarded the names of seven Professors to the visitor to appoint one in Acting capacity while we follow the standard due process in appointing a substantive one. The Chairman of council of Deans, Prof. Osim Ogah will stand in as VC for tomorrow's matriculation".

The way the appointment of a new VC has been handled by the government and council have been widely criticised as some staff who spoke with our reporter in confidence said that the " confusion is slowing the pace of activities in the university".

"What we don't understand is whether the expiration of the tenure of the former VC came as a surprise to the governing council or the Governor. What is happening is a big shame and a disaster because nothing is really working in that University because there's no leadership", one the staff said.

Also, a Lecturer in the faculty of education said that "We have heard that everything that's happening is because there's an interest in a particular person which has received wide criticism. My personal opinion is that, the position should go to the north being that it's the only senatorial district that's yet to produce VC but not Obudu. They're qualified hands from other local governments in the north.

I heard the Governor has interest to return to the Senate in 2023, he can't appoint Obudu person a VC and expect a smooth ride in 2023 because the sentiment will definitely count against him".