Umahi didn't hijack our job, says DUFUHS Governing council

By Amechi Innocent

The Management and Governing Council of David Umahi Federal University of Health Science (DUFUHS) Uburu, Ebonyi State have denied the alleged sideline and hijack of the institution by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi.

The Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of University Dr. Adebayo Shittu while addressing newsmen in the university their meeting said that the allegations was handiwork of the enemies of the university aimed at trashing the image, causing crisis and disrepute.

He said that council and management of the institution have no problem but have been working in synergy to uplift the university.

"We do not have any problem of instability. The governing council made up of distinguished Nigerians from all over the country are here with us. We have very fantastic synergy between the governing council and the management of the university.

"I was surprised two days ago when I got a call from a supposed journalist from the USA giving me information that they learned that I have been sidelined purportedly by the current minister of works. I told the journalist and they wanted information. Apparently they were looking for negative information from me.

"I told them that I have no complaint against anybody and that nobody has sidelined me and nobody could have sidelined me as an experienced politician. I have been in politics for all of 47 years. So it's not possible for anybody to sideline me and I don't have any complaint.

"We work as brothers and sisters here. So any information you get that is negative, you know that it is a hatchet job by criminals who are frustrated, who have objectives which are not noble and who want to destabilize the university. On behalf of the governing council I can assure you that we don't have any problem.

"We are happy, we are satisfied, everything is going on fine and it is our objective that we will continue to pursue the best interests of the university for the benefit of the entire country. We are welcoming students from all parts of this country because this is a federal university and we don't have any misgivings about why we are brought in here to assist in ensuring the progress and development of this university" Shiittu stated.

Also, a member of the Governing Council Barrister Saliu Bamedele-Aluku in his remarks described the allegation as malicious, very slanderous and unreasonable to say the caliber of people that are carefully selected to be in this governing council will be cowed by anybody.

"So it is not true. It is untrue. It is false that the council has been hijacked and we are not allowed to do our duty. We have been very active in our functions. 

"Our council meeting has been very tough. It's not like you will not be allowed to. We crossed all the T's and dot all the I's. Nobody has been doctoring us. We cannot be doctored. The man they are talking to we have not even met him.

"We are not communicating with Umahi. He's not intervening in our business here. So it is malicious to assert that the council has been hijacked.

If it's been hijacked we won't be here today. We are not here because of this press briefing. We are doing our own duty as a council.

The representative of the Federal Ministry of Education in the governing council Mr. Paul Ukpe said that the information that is peddled is unfounded."We don't have issues here".

 The Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Jesse Uneke affirmed that he doesn't have issue either the Umahi or governing council as alleged but has been hard to make the university the world best.

"As I'm speaking to you, we are in our regular council meeting. And so anybody that is saying that the council is not working the person is just unnecessarily malicious. But then we are not moved by that because when you are doing well there will be people who will not be happy with your progress and then this is natural.

"So, you can ask the students ask their parents and they will tell you that this university is doing marvelously well. If you look at the infrastructures here you know that the council is supervising these structures very, very well. All the constructions going on in this university, the council oversees how they are being built and managed.

"And you know that it's clear evidence that the council is really working. The university is very stable. We don't have any issues academically, administratively and that also attests to the fact that the council is doing its work very, very well," VC Uneke stated.