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Dusty End For Dusty Deeds
There was a press release from Rivers State University, published in The Tide newspaper of Monday, October 14, 2019, (page11). It had to do with the dismissal of a Professor in the Department of Banking and Finance. There was also a statement that “The Council also directed Senate to Withdraw the degree certificates” of two part-time undergraduate students who had graduated from the dismissed Professor’s department. There was a mention of “wrongful graduation”.
It has become necessary to send in this write-up because, as pioneer academic staff of that institution from its inception as a university, one is a knowing-insider. Better as it may be, there is a need to point out some issues, though in a sketching manner, which would be in public interest. The dusty affairs that characterised the decline of that institution began when the Bursary Department got burnt by fire.
Someone thought it necessary to bring in an outsider to run the affairs of the university. Unfortunately the effects of the fire-brigade decision following the arson and the new cure-all medicine became more dangerous than the ailment diagnosed on the spot.
As an ex-police intelligence officer before becoming a lecturer, I approached a few highly experienced pioneer lecturers and made efforts to seek the intervention of the state House of Assembly.
It was not long before there arose a system of fascism in the administration of a university. There were series of local and national strikes by university lecturers, and there were a few patriotic and professional-minded lecturers who wanted to see that RSUST remained a model institution. Unfortunately, the virus of dirty politics infected that institution, tearing the rank of the academic staff apart. The division and animosity fostered by those who were more interested in becoming professors than ideal lecturers have remained hitherto.
There was a time that a branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was hunted and harassed like a criminal and then dismissed. His re-instatement after about three years was a great victory for justice. A situation where hypocrisy, boot-licking and holier-than-thou attitude become instruments for personnel elevation, things would fall apart. A situation where gossip-peddling becomes an instrument of management, there would be division and animosity among members of the workforce. Things get worse if those anomalies are encouraged.
In the old Rivers State University of Science and Technology, managing the division and animosity in that institution required fostering an “ integrity” group, with sanctioning as a trade-mark. A situation where an administrator would manager an establishment via a divide-and-rule strategy, the success of that step would be short-lived.
Even though some mercenary staff would benefit from a fascist system of management through such strategy would decline eventually. Therefore, it has become necessary to mention those facts because a vital management malpractice bedevilling this country is the use of paid agents, usually insiders, to enthrone an undemocratic regime. This management style accounts for the decline in public bureaucracy.
When, in 2012, an “Appeal for sanity in RSUST, by Retired Pioneers Academic Staff of the University” was meant to be taken to Rivers State House of Assembly, the move was seen as an affront by those who know better how to run a university. There had also been a suggestion for instituting a public commission of inquiry into the affairs and management style of the university. The change of name of the institution to Rivers State University has not changed much.
Rather, what is obvious is that it becomes difficult to root out and eradicate a virus once it has been allowed to poison the blood stream. Efforts made in the past by patriotic individuals and humble groups to re-position the university did not yield much result. This is largely because all such patriotic staff are now retired from the institution.
Whatever dusty deeds that resulted in the Bursary Unit of the university being gutted by fire, there was also another issue which was suggested for adoption as far back as 1983. When house rent began to go up in Port Harcourt, from N24,000 for a three-bedroom flat, to N420,000, there was a suggestion to give housing loan rather than rent flats for senior staff.
There were several other cost-saving suggestions, to ensure prudence and foster productivity. Someone specifically said in a Senate meeting that “ those of you who studied abroad should know that we are in Nigeria”. Although that statement was meant to be a joke, it was revealing. “We are in Nigeria” was interpreted to mean that “ you must hustle to get what you want, for nobody would give you anything just for the asking”.
The work of a PHD student threw more light into what it takes to survive in the Nigerian political economy, there was an emphasis that productivity is not a national value. Many Nigerians have questioned the country’s reward system. With regards to the professional misconducts of “ sorting and extortion of money”, including sex for marks, these issues have more deep-rooted origins and explanations which a public, sincere inquiry would help to bring to light.
One would ask: is sorting worse than promotion for loyalty to a tyrannical leader? Where merit and productivity do not count, then, what do you find?
Bright Amirize
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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