The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the University of Abuja community to maintain peace amidst objections raised by some professors regarding the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi as the institution’s new Vice Chancellor.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, emphasized that peaceful conduct and adherence to law and order by the academic community are essential for achieving academic excellence and advancing infrastructural development at the university.
He stated, “Some professors have expressed dissatisfaction with the process leading to the appointment of Professor Aisha Maikudi on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja.
“The process faced challenges, including a walkout by one professor during the joint selection board meeting and an aborted senate meeting on December 24, 2024.”
MURIC condemned what it termed “academic banditry” in an environment where disagreements should be resolved through dialogue, maturity, and mutual respect.
The organization expressed dismay that the selection of a candidate deemed the best among ten shortlisted contenders by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board, following established guidelines for appointing vice chancellors, could provoke such controversy.
“It is evident that the opposition has chosen to ignore the exceptional qualifications and impressive academic record of the new Vice Chancellor to pursue personal agendas,” Akintola added.
He highlighted that campus politics often complicates transitions and urged the aggrieved professors to consider the Federal Government’s one-term policy for vice chancellors, designed to mitigate such conflicts.
“Every university professor is a potential vice chancellor. Aisha Maikudi, a highly qualified academic, has been duly appointed. No one should undermine her for any reason, whether gender, ethnicity, or creed,” he stated.
Akintola further noted that the primary responsibilities of university academics are teaching and research, describing leadership roles as secondary. He criticized the tendency among some professors to prioritize administrative positions for material benefits.
“The new Vice Chancellor has emerged. It is time to focus on the core purpose of academia. Let peace prevail on the University of Abuja campus,” he concluded.