The South East Revival Group (SERG) has vehemently condemned the Joint Civil Society Front (JCSF) for launching what it describes as a “politically motivated” campaign against Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). SERG accused JCSF of fabricating a controversy around academic records, specifically calling for Professor Ortuanya’s suspension or resignation, demands that SERG has dismissed as baseless and malicious. This emerging dispute highlights significant tensions between civil society groups and the university’s administration over allegations of misconduct and governance.

In a press statement issued on Friday by Comrade Obiora Omeje, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of SERG, the group asserted that JCSF deliberately distorted a routine administrative clarification concerning academic records into a politically charged issue. SERG contended that this calculated move aims to undermine the leadership and operational stability of the esteemed University of Nigeria, Nsukka, by generating undue public pressure and fostering an environment of discord within the academic community. The group underscored the critical importance of upholding the integrity of established academic and administrative processes.

Central to the JCSF’s allegations were claims of record tampering involving former Minister Uche Nnaji. However, SERG unequivocally debunked these assertions, clarifying that Professor Ortuanya was not serving as Vice Chancellor during Mr. Nnaji’s tenure as a student at UNN. Consequently, SERG maintained that Professor Ortuanya could not have played any role in Mr. Nnaji’s academic journey or the management of his records at the time, thereby rendering the accusations against him factually incorrect and potentially misleading to the public.

SERG further characterised JCSF’s demand for the Vice Chancellor’s immediate suspension or resignation as “baseless, malicious, and defamatory.” The group issued a stern warning against the deployment of such tactics, describing them as overt attempts to intimidate a premier academic institution and its leadership. It reiterated that academic institutions must function as independent centres of learning, free from external political interference or personal vendettas that could compromise their core mission and hard-earned reputation.

The statement from SERG emphatically declared that “academic institutions cannot and must not be turned into battlegrounds for political vendetta.” It stressed that the verification of academic records constitutes a standard administrative procedure, typically handled by the university’s Registrar’s office, and does not inherently signify bias, conspiracy, or impropriety. SERG posited that JCSF’s narrative represented a deliberate act of mischief, meticulously designed to manipulate public sentiment and create an atmosphere of distrust.

SERG portrayed the Joint Civil Society Front as potentially unwitting proponents of personal grievances rather than genuine advocates for public interest and transparency in educational governance. By framing the entire issue as a manufactured political controversy, SERG sought to expose what it perceives as a misuse of civil society platforms for private agendas, effectively diverting attention from crucial educational matters and fostering an environment of suspicion within the broader university system.

The South East Revival Group outlined several resolute positions within its comprehensive statement. It maintained unequivocally that the allegations levelled against Professor Ortuanya utterly lacked factual foundation and clearly originated from underlying political motivations. SERG explicitly called upon JCSF to immediately cease its efforts to mislead the public and to desist from politicising legitimate civil society activism, which should ideally focus on constructive engagement and diligent oversight rather than contentious, unsubstantiated claims.

Furthermore, SERG underscored the paramount imperative to protect the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from harassment and unwarranted external interference, which is deemed crucial for safeguarding its institutional autonomy and academic freedom. While endorsing the Education Minister’s decision to establish an investigative panel to probe the allegations, SERG cautioned strongly against pre-emptive actions or conducting media trials that could prematurely prejudice the ongoing process or unjustly damage the reputations of individuals involved, emphasising the fundamental importance of due process and fair hearing.

SERG concluded by urging the general public, members of the academic community, and all relevant stakeholders to unequivocally reject what it termed “orchestrated falsehoods” and to allow UNN to concentrate on fulfilling its primary mandate of education, research, and community service. The group appealed for the fostering of an environment free from what it described as “personalised political battles,” thereby ensuring that the university’s essential functions remain undisrupted by external pressures and political machinations.

Read Original

Keywords: UNN Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, South East Revival Group (SERG), Joint Civil Society Front (JCSF), Academic records controversy, University governance, Education Minister investigative panel, Nsukka university allegations