I have just read an intriguing article by the erudite professor Walter Binang titled “Debunking the Notion that Zoning the Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Calabar Undermines Meritocracy” in which he furiously lacerated those who argue that zoning of the position of vice chancellor of the University of Calabar to the three senatorial zones in the state, one after the other, was alien to the essential spirit of the university as an institution.
The learned professor’s argument about the beauty of zoning however took the form of a freshly erected four-storey building rendered asunder by the addition of a fifth floor which tragically crushes the first four to debris and utter decimation. Sad, isn’t it?
After arguing that zoning is a framework of inclusive meritocracy, that merit exists across all zones, that zoning promotes unity, equity and institutional stability, and that zoning is both constitutional and ethical, Binang suddenly orchestrates a dramatic somersault that fundamentally supports the point we have been trying to make all day long, completely invalidating his own earlier position.
This is what Binang said in his fifth argument:
“Even within the zoning framework, the University of Calabar retains stringent criteria for selecting a Vice-Chancellor. The position is advertised nationally, and candidates must present their curriculum vitae, academic credentials, and vision statements, and undergo interviews before a duly constituted selection committee. The Governing Council is statutorily empowered to appoint the best among the candidates who meet the criteria—not merely based on geography but on vision, competence, and capacity to lead. “
No one could have made the point for not zoning the position better than this! That is why the Governing Council is staturorily empowered to appoint the best among those who vie in every selection season and why professors from all zones have always ran elections for the position everytime the seat has fallen vacant. There has never been an election cycle for instance, that someone from thep Southern zone has not contested.
Were we to follow Binang’s argument about ensuring equity and justice by zoning, what would we do about the fact that the South has held the position 4 times, the Central 3 times and the North just once. Again, what kind of justice and equity ensures that the three universities in the state are led by professors from one zone only? Would it not be more justiceable if these victories were won in a fair and just contest that excludes no one?
Those who know the history of the institution would shudder to recall what Professor Ayandele described as ‘ORONPHOBIA’ in the mid-seventies when the dominance of the university by a few persons from one area took over the affairs of the institution and the seething resentment and ethnic tensions that followed.
The then Dr. Enyeninihi, Dr. Uya and Dr. Davidson, all from Oron, had been made deans of faculties of Sciences, Arts and Social sciences respectively. The famous outburst by Ayandele who had described Cross River State as ‘an atomistic society perpetually at war with itself’ was the result of these tensions.
In the good old days when the Federal government appointed vice chancellors for its universities no don was appointed to lead the university in their states of origin. That is why the first three VCs of Unical were Prof. Emmanuel Ayandele, Prof. Isa Mohammed and Prof. Isa Baba Mohammed, while Prof. Donald Ekong was appointed VC of the University of Port Harcourt.
I warned the other day that the spirit of EMILOKAN should not enter Cross River State because it will destroy rather than make us. It is also important to note that the world is not about to end in a few years time. There is no need to invite the destructive spirit and methods of our circular politics into the inner sanctum of our university system by seeming to zone the position of chancellorship and exerting overwhelming influence from outside the institution. A word, I believe, is enough for the wise.
This is absolute waste of energy. We all came to this world with nothing and we shall leave with nothing.
This is but like Politicizing or ethnicizing education. Thus there is no hope for justice to those whose ethnic group members hold not the VC position.
Like you quoted someone in your write up about the atomic nature of Cross River State, always at war with itself, your conscience should honestly inform you that you are fanning an ember for personal interest rather than the interest of academic system in the University of Calabar.
The universities you mentioned are owned by the State. Unical is a federal institution. Therefore what I think you should suggest is for the return to the era of direct appointment of VC by the federal government for federal schools, barring where the appointee comes from. Not just an indigene of Cross River State.
Please let there be peace. Schools are places where educated men and women are employed to train and administer students, and NOT some place to play some personal, ethnic or regional politics.