By joshua 
VC’s Engagements In Abuja Yielding Benefits, Cult Renunciation Committee Chairman’s Letter Mischievous, Says UNIBEN
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin city
Authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have justified the several engagements of the vice chancellor of the institution to Abuja, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, SAN.
A statement Monday in Benin City by the Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire explained that the vice chancellor’s engagements both in Abuja and within the immediate host community of the university are the statutory obligation of vice chancellors of government-owned universities just they could also be prompted by invitation to meetings where important policy issues affecting universities are discussed and far reaching decisions taken.
Dr. Ehanire, who reacted against the backdrop of a write-up by one Miracle Chukwudi on what she insisted is “spurious and unguided allegations” against the vice chancellor, noted that the school’s authorities viewed the said publication as most uncharitable to Prof. Omoregie, who has worked very hard to ensure that the tertiary institution is uplifted from the morass it found itself for several years, having been relegated in the allocation of valuable infrastructure and other benefits from the federal government, among other institutional benefits.
She said that such high level engagements by the vice chancellor have clearly yielded numerous benefits to the school, which amongst others, included the on-going construction of a four-floor new Senate building; and the employment of the first batch of over 500 new teaching and non-teaching staff after ten years of purported embargo on employment by the federal government.
The institution’s image maker listed other benefits to include the attraction of several staff and institution grants – World Bank, TEFUND, etc – for academic and infrastructure development purposes, such as the ongoing construction of new medical students hostel and new office buildings; and the opening up of Site B for massive development and completion of the ultra modern Faculty of Veterinary edifice to be commissioned in a few weeks time.
Dr. Ehanire added: “Management reiterates that these widely acknowledged achievements and more by the vice chancellor in one and a half years in office could not have been achieved without the amount of networking that he is engaged in.
The public relations officer further stated that the management is relieved by the resignation of Venerable Egbenusi as Chairman of the CRC4 Committee as he has literally not functioned effectively in that position.
While insisting that the remarks of the Venerable Egbenusi in his letter of resignation as ones done in bad faith, she pointedly accused the ex-committee chairman of adopting a belligerent disposition towards the authorities following the decision for consumers of electricity on campus to pay amounts commensurate with their operations.
She added: “Whereas other religious bodies on campus have since understood the situation and are cooperating with the university, the venerable remains adamant, thus resulting in series of friction with the university authorities.
According to her, The last straw was the persistent posting of clips of violence outside the university’s campus by the venerable to the vice chancellor. This was seen as deliberate attempt at seeking attention and excuse for the CRC4 Committee’s leadership failure.
She stated further that, “Management assures all stakeholders that the university campuses are calm and safe. The vice chancellor remains committed to his agenda to lift the University of Benin to a much more higher pedestal than he met it and will not be distracted by those who do not mean well for the university.”