By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Some concerned indigenes of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State have picked holes in the process that produced the Vice Chancellor designate of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Egbewole, saying the process was sordid.

The concerned Ilorin Emirate indigenes, under the aegis of Ilorin Association of Friends, made their feelings known at a press conference in Ilorin, the state capital on Tuesday.

The leader of the group, Alhaji Bashiru Aliyu, said:

“We have not called the press conference to bore you with the rhetorics or sentiment that an Ilorin man must always emerge as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, even though the process must not be programmed to edge out qualified indigenous candidates of the community, as the University in question is a federal institution opened to any qualified Nigerian; neither are we here to attack any personality.

“However, we are here to register our grievances on the sordid process that produced the least qualified as the new VC designate against the established standard and convention of the University.”

It would be recalled that the Vice Chancellor designate, Prof. Egbewole, an indigene of Osun State, had, upon his appointment, extended hand of fellowship to his co- contestants, saying, “the University is bigger than all of us”, while also pledging to be fair to all the stakeholders in the running of the affairs of the University.

But Aliyu insisted that: “As stakeholders and concerned citizens of Kwara state, where the University is sited, we will like to call on all the relevant organs of government and those who have responsibility to oversee the affairs of the University to look into the activities of the institution’s Council and the entire process that produced the new VC designate of the University of Ilorin.

“As stakeholders in this community with peace track records, we have resolved to ward off any shenanigan that may threaten our hard- earned peace. We, therefore, want to call on relevant authorities to see to it that there is no miscarriage of justice on this matter.”