Youth Group alleges plot to suspend Uni Jos VC, Professor Maimako

Professor Sebastine Maimako, Vice Chancellor University of Jos

Youth Group alleges plot to suspend Uni Jos VC, Professor Maimako

By Dickson Gupiya

April 18, 2020

A youth group under the aegis of Coalition of Plateau State Ethnic Youth Nationalities, an umbrella body of coalition of ethnic nationalities in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria has alleged clandestine moves by highly placed personalities to indict the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Professor Sebastine S. Maimako, place him on suspension and put a acting VC of their choice to do their bidding.

A statement by the group this evening, signed by Comr. Lohnan Samson jor also expressed dismay over the treatment meted on the Vice Chancellor during an interactive session with the House Committee on Federal Character few days ago over an alleged breach of Federal Character describing the exercise as selective injustice and embarrassing not only to Professor Maimako but to the people of Plateau state in general.

Part of the statement reads; “Our attention has been drawn to a video, circulated on the social Media and other means of communications regarding an interactive session between the House Committee on Federal Character and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos.

“As law abiding citizens of this country, we want to appreciate the efforts of the Committee in trying to bring sanity and equal representation in our Federal Institutions and MDAs.

“As representatives of Plateau Ethnic youth Nationalities, we are worried by the selective injustice and embarrassment meted on a seasoned scholar and erudite Professor whom we as a body can attest to his grandeur achievements since assuming office as the VC. Having come to terms with realities and guided by the principle that 'an injury to one is an injury to all', we are therefore requesting for justice and equity”.

The group stated that it was not in a position to exonerate the VC of the Institution of any wrong doing, but to draw the attention of the Chairman of the House Committee and his members on the realities in the Country with regard to federal character. “We make bold to say that no section of all the geopolitical zones in the country can claim saint on this. The available data before us has proven same. Thus, the Committee can proof us wrong and make available nominal rolls of all Federal Universities.

“To make clear our case, for instance, the Federal University Dutsinma (where by coincidence, the Chairman of the committee comes from) is dominated by Katsina people. Interestingly, the VC, Registrar and Librarian of the University are all from Katsina state. 70% of senior and 80% of junior staff are all from Katsina state. Should we then call it 'Katsina State University'?

“This observation stems from a comment by one of the members of the committee who picked on the Unijos VC and the registrar (the only two principal officers from Plateau state).

“We are also aware of this similar lopsidedness in institutions like Federal University of Technology Owerri, University of Maiduguri, University Of Lagos, Uthman Danfodiyo University Sokoto, ABU Zaria, University of Ibadan, and University of Port Harcourt among others, where most of the principal officers are members of the same geopolitical region or even same state. Why is the spotlight and embarrassment on Plateau?”, the group asked rhetorically.

The group added that it will not accept selective injustice just to appease some few individuals with political and/or personal agenda and further described the exercise of the house committee as an affront not just on Professor Maimako but to Plateau state.

“This is certainly not against Prof S.S Maimako or the University of Jos, but an affront on the state of Plateau which we cannot take lightly. Plateau is a target and the University is being used for cheap score.

“As law abiding and informed citizens, we advise that personal interest should NEVER override collective interest, the selected victimization, as also speculated with the Federal University Gusau (Zamfara state) is still fresh in our minds, but we save that for another day.

Entrance to Uni Jos Main Campus

The coalition stated that Plateau state is a peace loving state with decent citizens but expressed disenchantment for the fact that the state over the years has been engulfed in upheavals with socio-political and religious undertone stressing that the instant case is also taking that coloration. “Between 2011-2019, 90% of employment offers to Plateau state is skewed to one religion. 70% of which went just to one local government. We similarly, keep that for another debate”, the statement added.

The coalition also claimed to be in possession of information purportedly from Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi when he was a member of Plateau state House of Assembly, where he accused the VC of making the University, a Federal Christian University “Today, he is in the House of Representatives (representing the good people of Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal constituency). Could this be an extension of a hitherto failed attempt? Could it be an avenue to settle personal scores? Time shall tell”, the group stated.

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The group further said that it was aware of a trending message on the social media, where Hon Gagdi purportedly dissociated himself from the 'predicament' of the VC of the University of Jos. “The tone is absolutely unfortunate with so much left to wonder the intelligence of some of our leaders. We advise him to probably keep quiet instead of exposing his deficiency in leadership. We shall always be willing to help him (if he opens to learning)” When African Drum contacted Hon. Yusuf Gagdi to hear his own side of the story, he said he can only respond if the allegation was raised by the Vice Chancellor.

The coalition also said that it was observing with keen interest the body language of other members of the House of Representatives’ from the state

it called on well meaning Nigerians to intercede on what it called selective toxicity melted on the people of Plateau. “We request that a nominal roll of all Federal Universities be published. We are also aware that some Universities have padded the list- This can be easily verified. However, the spread of the principal officers is a translation of the operation in these Universities”, the statement added.

. In concision, the group stated that it will resist in clear terms any plot by enemy(s) of Plateau state who are relentlessly plotting to nail the hardworking VC. “This is a deliberate attempt to suffocate the VC of the good works he is doing in the University and we will resist it vehemently”, the statement concluded.