Gani vs Ajasin University

Comfort Obi

The rot that is the story of Nigerian universities has just come to a head at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State. And I am not talking of the low academic standard which has resulted in a situation where some university graduates cannot make a simple correct sentence, and atimes cannot distinguish between tenses, singular and plural. Or, a situation where university campuses have been reduced to training grounds for criminals. Everyday, we hear and read stories of university undergraduates who have become drug couriers, armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists, murderers, rapists and worse. And these vices are not the exclusive of the boys. In addition to being high profile prostitutes, some female undergraduates indulge in all the above.
Here is the story of the shame that is AAUN.
On July 31, the Senate of AAUN rolled out the names of those which the university would honour with honorary doctorate degrees. Starved of operational funds, Nigerian universities usually use the offer of honorary doctorate degrees to raise the much-needed funds. So, oftentimes, because they are looking for monetary gratification, they give to every Dick and Harry who can either give them millions of naira, build hostels, and/or academic and administrative blocks for them. But let me confirm that the trend has helped universities. Criminally underfunded, especially, state universities, most of them will be glorified primary schools (infrastructure-wise) – without the largesse from the honorees.
So, AAUN decided to honour some dignitaries. And one of those chosen was Gani Fawehinmi, SAN. In a letter dated July 31, 2008, AAUN’s Registrar, Bolatito Oloketuyi, informed Fawehinmi of the university’s desire to honour him. The letter also informed him of the day the honour would be bestowed on him, alongside other personalities.
Now, Fawehinmi is eminently qualified for the honour. He has carried himself with dignity and has distinguished himself in his chosen career – law – and all other facets of life. Before the AAUN offer, he has been honoured by a couple of universities within and outside Nigeria. His rich and irresistible C. V. speaks for him. He is not, therefore, looking for fame. He is not one of those who would lobby for such honour. Indeed, he doesn’t need them. But there is a saying that the greatest honour one can receive is one from one’s people. AAUN is owned by the Ondo State Government. And Fawehinmi is a proud and distinguished son of Ondo State.
When Fawehinimi’s chambers received the letter conveying the university’s desire to honour him, he was in a London Hospital battling lung cancer. But he accepted the honour personally and disclosed that he would be present to receive it. I guess it was the joy of being chosen to be honoured by his state’s university that made Fawehinmi to promise to be present to receive the award, to the detriment of his health. Otherwise, what does he need the honour for? It will not add anything to his C.V.
A man who never does things in half measures, he must have started contacting family members, friends, and associates to be his guest. But all that is gone.
In a move which confounds all understanding, the university, in a letter signed again by Oloketuyi a month later, informed Fawehinmi of the withdrawal of the award. The reason: “Unavoidable circumstances.” It did not elaborate on that.
It was an embarrassed Fawehinmi who wrote to AAUN protesting the unwarranted humiliation and pointing accusing fingers at the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, Fawehinmi has been a fearless critic of his government.
Some Nigerians have reacted in shock, one of the strongest coming from the AAUN branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Ayantepo Igbaakin, the union said: “Whatever that had transpired has cast aspersion on the integrity of the university.” It noted, for the records, that: “There has been no contrary senate decision extract, reconsidering the award of honorary degree to be conferred on Chief Gani Fawehinmi. In so far as the senate did not reconsider its stand, the award of the honorary degree communicated to Chief Fawehinmi still stands. It is the senate that is vested with the powers to award and withdraw degrees and no other organ of the university…”
The question that follows then is: If the senate did not sit to withdraw the award, who did? My guess is: It is between Agagu and the university authorities led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Philip Abiodun. But while Agagu keeps an undignified silence, Abiodun is playing Judas Iscariot. He pleads to be left out of the Fawehinmi controversy. Taken on by the Press, he thundered: “I am an academic, technocrat, administrator and Chief Executive of the institution. My duty is limited to that. Fawehinmi is a respected citizen of this country. Please, I will not comment on the issue. I am a technocrat and will not be a party to bring disrespect to this university.” Professor Abiodun must be joking. How can he be left alone?
He says he is the CEO of the university. So, how come he does not know what is happening? Is it possible that the honour could be withdrawn without his knowledge? If so, what is he still doing as the CEO? Who is running the university for him? In more civilised countries, Abiodun should have resigned as the V.C. in order to keep his integrity and the independence of the university intact. But here, it is a difficult thing to do. Resignation, no matter how much they are humiliated, is not in some people’s dictionary. Academics are supposed to be independent-minded. They value that. Once it is taken away, they are reduced to nobodies. By not standing up to defend his integrity and that of the university, Abiodun has abdicated his duties. In case Abiodun and the piper who is playing the music he is dancing to do not know, what they have done is to call to question Fawehinmi’s integrity. They should explain why. And it had better be strong and genuine. Otherwise, Fawehinmi should sue the Senate, the Vice Chancellor and the AAUN for everything they have got.
The withdrawal was in bad faith. And was done with an intent to embarrass him. For a man of Fawehinmi's standing, it is sad.