Sacked UNIZIK VC Odoh to Tinubu: You can’t fire me through press release

Sacked Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), in Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Bernard Odoh, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to sack him was misguided, alleging poor advice.

Odoh emphasized that his appointment was not made via press release; therefore, his removal cannot be justified through the same means.

He made the remarks during an AriseTV interview on Thursday monitored by Persecondnews in response to his ousting as UNIZIK’s vice-chancellor.

Persecondnews reported that President Tinubu had on Wednesday approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of UNIZIK and the removal of Prof. Odoh, the new Vice Chancellor, and Mrs. Rosemary Nwokike, the Registrar.

The dissolution and removal were made public in Abuja on Wednesday via a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

Odoh said: “I’m qualified for this position. Three assessors assessed me. I became a professor on October 1, 2015. I applied for the position. I applied and was appointed.

“I’m not imposing myself on the institution. But the issue of not being a professor is all lies. People paid to remove my records from a university.

“I’m not disobeying Mr. President, but it is the governing council that will recommend my sack. The minister (Tunji Alausa) jumped the gun. The court has not ruled on this matter. I cannot be removed through a press release.

“There was no panel of inquiry. I was not appointed through a press release. The visitor (Tinubu) has not invited me to hear my side of the story. I’m from Ebonyi state. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State.

“I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. No vice-chancellor, no registrar, no governing council? Mr. President must have been ill-advised. He can remove me, but only through the council.”