Professor Kembe’s tenure as Vice Chancellor of Benue state University ends next month. Therefore, the race for the exalted office has started in harness. Out of 28 professors that shows interest in the office one of them Professor Eugene Aliegba withdrew from the race at the last minute. Aliegba, a professor of Political Science of over 20 years’ experience.
The examination was taken by the remaining twenty seven (27) candidates all are Professors while only seven(7) passed.
.An interview has been scheduled this week to select three candidates among whom the new vice chancellor would be picked.
Aliegba questioned the criteria that required the candidates to write examination. He argued that it was unfair for a professor of over 25 years standing to write an examination with another professor who has just two or three years’ experience, insisting that there must be a set standard.
“If a professor sits for examination, who will mark him? It is not done anywhere where an examination is conducted for selection of vice chancellor. What you do is select candidates based on CV submitted and invite them for interview,” Aliegba said.
“I have been in university administration for quite a long time and know the procedure for selection of a vice chancellor and from what is happening, it seems they have already zeroed in on a candidate. They should go ahead and announce instead of subjecting professors to examination which nothing will come out of,” he said.
Aliegba, a former governorship aspirant, told The Nation that he informed the BSU Governing Council Chairman Prof. Zack Gundu, of his decision to withdraw from the race and the examination.
When contacted on the matter, Gundu said: “I have no comment on that.’’
Only seven out of the 27 Professors who sat for the exam passed. A whooping 20 failed the examination.
It was gathered that Prof. Tor Iorapuu, who came tops in the exam, is likely to emerge vice chancellor.
Others who passed the examinations were: Saasongu Unongu, Ama Doki, Vitalis Tarhule Verlumun, U.D. Ikoni and Omudu Agbo
