OSHIOMHOLE VS UNIBEN ...Who blinks first? January 15, 2015 There’s apprehension in the air over the on-going face-off between the authorities of the University of Benin and Edo State government as the Seven-day ultimatum by students The authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Edo State Government have, in recent weeks, been at loggerheads over the demolition of property given to the institution during the administration of Brig. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, the then military governor. Ever since the demolition of the property housing some of the university’s lecturers, there has been tension in the state, as protesting students, on one occasion, blocked the entire Benin-Lagos road for several hours Trouble started on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, when unidentified agents of the Edo State Government reportedly beat up and forcefully threw out the staff of the university, who occupied the two buildings allegedly sold to the crown Prince of Benin Kingdom. Earlier, the High Court had delivered a judgment and awarded ownership of the buildings to the state government, after which the university authorities promptly filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgment. The State Government, which claimed it was not served a stay-of- execution order, resorted to self-help, in an attempt to enforce the court judgment in its favour. The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Henry Idahagbon, threatened to resign if the university’s authority produced the stay of execution order. It would be recalled that the government of the defunct Midwest state, led by Ogbemudia, made a gift of eighteen buildings to the university. The properties are in G.R.A, Benin-City, and have, since, been within the exclusive and undisturbed possession of the university, whose staff are housed therein. It was reliably gathered that the buildings were given as gifts to cushion the effect of the teething problems being experienced by the institution, especially in the area of accommodation at its inception. In apparent sympathy with their lecturers, who are now homeless, students of the university went on rampage, unleashing mayhem on government property. Having blocked the ever busy Benin-Lagos road for several hours, the rampaging students burnt a luxury bus belonging to Edo City Transport, popularly called Comrade Bus, with number plate ED129BH. The students, who described the action of the state government as barbaric and unconstitutional have since given a 7-day ultimatum to Governor Adams Oshiomhole to rebuild the houses or face mass action. Meanwhile, the university, through its counsel, Barrister Hannibal Uwaifo, had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to call the Edo state government and its agents to order, for what was perceived as threat to life and property in the dispute. In addition, the petition reads: “In a very familiar onslaught against educational institutions and indeed all known ethos of civility, that has characterized the reign of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Executive Governor of Edo State, an unprecedented assault was launched against the University towards forcefully reclaiming the properties given to the University of Benin.” “The university went to court to seek a judicial determination of ownership of the properties. Indeed, not surprisingly, the governor and the Governmentof Edo State decided to sell two of the properties to the crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, during the pendency of the matter at a High Court in Benin-City in the case of University of Benin & Ors v. The Government of Edo State & Ors, suit No. B/74/2013”. The petition reads in part: “The High Court delivered judgment on December 16, 2014 and awarded ownership to the defendants. Being greatly dissatisfied with the reasoning adopted and the conclusions reached by the trial court, by December 19, 2014, our client had promptly filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgment. Our client informed us that on December 23, 2014, unidentified agents and proxies of the Edo State Government beat, mercilessly, up and forcefully threw out the staff of the university, who occupied the two properties sold to the Crown Prince. They, afterwards, locked them out of the properties with a stern warning that they will be killed if they ever were to be seen near the properties”. “Nevertheless, and to our client’s utmost chagrin, the perpetrators came visiting again on December 31, 2014, and this time, to pull down the two buildings, destroy the properties of the occupants and bury them in the rubbles. On the January 5, 2015, the thugs in company of the Governor of Edo State and, sadly, armed Nigeria policeman attached to the Government House, Benin City, destroyed the house of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor (Professor Osayuki Oshodin) and some other houses of staff”, adding that, “since the incident, the occupants of the destroyed houses have continued to live in constant fear of their lives and are even afraid to take available legal steps to vindicate their rights against their assailants”. Similarly, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) accused Oshiomhole Government of engaging in gangsterism by embarking on demolition of the property, when there was a pending appeal at the court, wherein the university was seeking a stay of theDecember 16, 2014 of the high court. According to the Chairman, ASUU-UNIBEN, Prof. Anthony Monye Emina: “in the last few days, the University of Benin and its staff, especially those residing in the university’s quarters, in the GRA, have been under siege and assault by a gang of thugs supervised by the Governor of Edo State, ‘Comrade’ Oshiomhole. This is as a result of his uncompromising desire to take over the properties transferred to the university at its inception by the military Government of S.O. Ogbemudia of the then Midwest state”. Monye noted that: “Oshiomhole should tow the path that is acceptable and honourable. He must respect the rule of law and allow the court processes to be concluded before taking possession of University of Benin property. He must stop using thugs to harass the citizens”. Meanwhile, the Comrade Governor claimed that the University authority got three years notice to vacate government property while also explaining how the property was acquired by the University. According to Oshiomhole, “As am sure you will recall, when UNIBEN was set up, the then military governor, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, in his wisdom decided as a young institution to assist some of the officers and staff with accommodation and so, some houses were made available to accommodate some of the staff of UNIBEN. However, they had occupied these property without paying any rent to Edo State Government but a couple of years ago, just before I assumed office as governor, the Federal Government in line with the policy of monetization under which salaries of employees including other allowances were abolished so that rather than provide these for certain categories of public officers, they were to be paid in lieu of either official quarters or cars”. “As a result of the decision, my predecessor in office, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor disputed the claim of the federal government and the University of Benin that these assets from our records were assets of Edo State Government”, noting that “If UNIBEN needs any favour from Edo State Government, I expect the leadership or the vice-chancellor to approach the government of Edo State for such a favour, not to approach us through their legal adviser”. Interestingly, the on-going face-off between Edo State Government and University of Benin is being turned to a political battle by the leading political parties in the state. The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has since condemned the demolition of the property of the institution. Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih said: “I saw the destruction of the official residence of the former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Oshiodin, on the order of Governor Adams Oshiomhole. For us in the PDP, we condemn, in strong terms, the demolition. Government is about service to the people and not about demolition of property”. Expectedly, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has equally reacted, while thanking Oshiomhole for taking possession of the property belonging to Edo State Government. According to a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon, the APC condemned the university authorities for allegedly instigating their students to protest. As the battle of wits rages, the question is, who blinks first between the University of Benin and Edo State Government. Only time will tell… DAILY TIMES JANUARY 15, 2015
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 06:06:13 +0000
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