AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF EDO STATE, SENATOR MONDAY OKPEBHOLO

By Dr Andrew Eigbedion

November 22, 2024

 

I want to first and foremost congratulate our newly sworn-in Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo alias Akpokomiza on his ascension into office on the 12th November, 2024.

The indices before all and sundry as I write this letter is that the Governor has hit the ground running.

Over the past week, we have witnessed major pronouncements and appointments. First was the appointment of some key players in his Cabinet. Also was the appointment of some Commissioners and Heads of major Agencies and Parastatals. We have also witnessed a series of pronouncements about the dissolution of all Edo State owned Government Boards. The latest of such dissolutions and perhaps not the last, was the dissolution of the Governing Councils of all State-owned Tertiary Institutions including that of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAUE) yesterday, the 20th of November, 2024.

It is the dissolution of the otherwise newly constituted Dr Frank Omo-Ehijele Odafen led Governing Council of AAUE that has necessitated this treatise.

It would be recalled that the immediate past Executive Governor of Edo State, Dr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki reconstituted the Governing Council of this University after over 3 years of the Institution being run by a Special Intervention Team (SIT) against the extant regulations of the National University Commission (NUC). Whereas the immediate past Governor of Edo State had a different impression of the performance of the SIT, the indicators on the ground showed an Institution that had just gone through one of the darkest periods of her lifetime. This was evidenced by the lack-lustre drop in the rating of the University amongst the Committee of Universities, the loss of accreditation of several of the Departments including that of the famous Medicine & Surgery as well as the Department of Nursing to mention but a few. The University Staff told and continue to tell tales of non-payment of salaries or salaries being owed them spanning from months to years by the previous SIT. The University appeared to have existed at her lowest ebb.

Then came the 11th of July, 2024 when the immediate past Governor made the pronouncement of the constitution of a new Governing Council for the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma under the headship of Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen. The Governing Council was sworn into office 3 days later at the Festival Hall of the Edo State Government House at Osadebe Avenue in Benin-City, Edo State. It is because of this illustrious Son of Esan land, this Medical Doctor par Excellence, this Entrepreneur, this renowned Philanthropist and goal-getter is another reason that has prompted me to do this treatise.

I told myself yesterday night after I heard the news of the dissolution of the Governing Council that my thoughts and knowledge about the transformative actions and activities of the Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led Governing Council must be brought to public space for scrutiny and this should not exceed 24 hours. As an old time Mentee of this great man and having been in touch with many of his actions and activities in the University, it would amount to a travesty of monumental proportions if I do not add my voice to this discussion. What I also know for sure is that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen might heavily frown at this write up, but it is what it is.

The achievements of the now dissolved Governing Council in the last 4 months are unparalleled particularly when you relate it to the situation of the school in the last few years. Notable amongst these achievements are enumerated below.

There is a new lease of life amongst the Staff, Students and indeed the Ekpoma Community about the new wave of positivity under the leadership of Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen. Several of the University Staff have been appraised and promoted within the period under review. This is something that had become alien to the University for several years. Many who were also erroneously removed from the payroll of the University are said to have been restored.

The Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria has already given a date to visit the Institution with the purpose of re-accreditation. The Department of Nursing has not admitted Students for training for the past 4 years!! The  timely intervention of the Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen-led Governing Council with personnel recruitment and equipment procurement has placed the Department at a vantage position for a probable re-accreditation at the next visit of the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

What about the College of Medicine where practically all the Departments including Medicine & Surgery and Nursing have lost their accreditation status? Medicine and Surgery has not admitted Students for training for the past 4 years while the Nursing  Department has also not admitted Students for training for about the same duration of time. The Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen-led Governing Council has worked tirelessly within the last 4 months in the recruitment of Medical Consultants for the College of Medicine and the construction of a new Lecture Hall at the Clinical Faculty in Irrua. I hear that he has established the requisite contacts with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for an accreditation visit soon. I know for sure that he sat on the Disciplinary Board of the MDCN some years ago as an official of the Council. He therefore understands the inner workings of that establishment and was expected to bring this to the fore and to the advantage of the University in her bid to reclaim her accreditation status. Such networks are rare to find in today's Nigeria and those who have it should be appreciated and valued.

The re-accreditation of the College of Medicine for itself and also for what it stands for with the Faculties of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences cannot be over-emphasized. Ditto for the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology in the College of Medicine.The downturn in fortunes of the Department of Medicine & Surgery has led to a proportionate downturn in the fortunes of these 3 Faculties and 2 Departments as stated above. The Department of Medicine & Surgery usually serves as a feeder pillar to these other Faculties in terms of Student recruitment. I hear that most of the Departments in Life & Physical Sciences have also lost their accreditation status with most of them having less than 10 students as new intakes for the forthcoming 2024/2025 academic session. 

It goes without saying therefore, that a Medical Doctor of long standing and of high repute like Dr  Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen is strategically positioned to bring his experience and network to bear in the rebirth of the College of Medicine at AAUE.

Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led now dissolved Governing Council has also rekindled the waning partnership between the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Irrua and the College of Medicine of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. As a long-time Member of the Board of ISTH, his presence and contributions to the development of that Institution is there for all to see and appreciate. The Management of the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital can verily attest to this fact 

Ditto is Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen's contribution to Medical Education and Administration in Nigeria. As a former National President of the Association of Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ANPMP), he has several networks and relationships with the who-is-who amongst Medical Doctors in the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), NUC, MDCN, etc and this could have a positive correlation with the fortunes of our dear College of Medicine, AAUE. I am also aware that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen has established linkages with foreign Medical Institutions with a view that Students and Staff of the College of Medicine of the Ambrose Alli University will have exchange programmes with foreign Medical Institutions. Are we going to just sweep these hard-fought collaborations under the carpet on a platter of Politics?

I am also aware that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen-led Governing Council was at an advanced stage of securing some Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Projects to the Ambrose Alli University recently. The University had almost been declared a Pariah Institution by TETFUND over the last few years.

Not many people will argue that one major reason that has apparently stunted the growth and development of AAUE is the unwholesome rivalry by some of the Associations within the University and the promotion of political sycophancy beyond merit and truth. Teaching and non-teaching staff (Academics and non-academics) alike struggled to find relevance with whichever Vice Chancellor was in power. A culture of debauchery, name calling and mud-slinging had become the order of the day. What were the consequences? Treachery, Gross insubordination of constituted authority, Pull-him-down (PHD) syndrome, etc. In his bid to reposition the University, the Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led Governing Council constituted a *Truth and Reconciliation Committee* to evaluate all the circumstances that brought the University to this torrid State as at 4 months ago. The Committee has commenced work with several persons making verbal and written presentations. This innovative master-stroke is sure to heal many wounds, reconcile several warring factions which shouldn't be existent in an academic citadel of learning. Let me also quickly advise our amiable Executive Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo that the further he distances himself from the Politics of AAUE, the healthier it would be for the fortunes of the University. My advice does not include the necessary and expected funding of the University in terms of monthly subvention.

Over the past 4 months, Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led now dissolved Governing Council started the process of ensuring that all Principal Officers and Deans of Faculties underwent the requisite elections to achieve a substantive status. I know for sure that all the Faculties in Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma had elections over the past 2 months and they now have substantive Deans. Elections have also been held for representatives of the Congregation, Convocation and Senate into the now dissolved Governing Council. A lot of money, energies, resources and time were committed into these processes. What becomes of these elected individuals who underwent a democratic process and were victorious and which is akin to what produced his Excellency himself on September 21st at the Gubernatorial election in Edo State? Will the University Management commit itself to another round of elections to determine these Representatives to the Governing Council?  The Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led Governing Council has also constituted all the Directorates in the University. These Directorates have now been positioned to raise the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the University and they have become functional. The wholesome dissolution of the Governing Council of AAUE therefore portends some grave dangers and oxbow lakes that may be difficult to surmount in the nearest future. I am afraid that we are now at another point of a vicious cycle when indeed it appeared recently that we were already moving away from the tangent of hopelessness as it concerns AAUE.

Recently while having a private interaction with Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen, a notable personage in the AAUE walked in and joined the interaction. I realized from their conversations that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen has been offering *pro bono services* to AAUE. Let me make it a bit simpler. I was shocked to hear that he was not collecting sitting allowances acrueable to his office as the Chairman of the Governing Council. When I probed him further, he said he sees AAUE as another opportunity to offer his God-given talents and resources to the people of Esan land. To say that I was shocked to my marrow is to say the least.

As a proud Alumnus of the University Secondary School, Ekpoma (USSEOSA) that I am, one is often awed and amazed by the improved fortunes of the Annunciation Catholic College (AAC), Irrua. The University Secondary School Ekpoma dwarfed the image of ACC, Irrua by the late 1980s through to 2000. It is also public knowledge that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen working harmoniously with other Alumni of ACC, Irrua has led the revolution and revival of ACC, Irrua while using his personal resources and connections to power the transformation of that Secondary School back to its glory days in his capacity as a past Global Alumni President.

Interestingly, ACC Irrua is located less than 400 meters from the private residence of his Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo at Irrua Town. There is no denying the fact that through the influence and commitment of Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen to community development, ACC Irrua’s lost glory of the 1960-1980s has been restored. The bar has been lifted higher indeed. As the Alumni of the School would proudly sing or chant wherever they are to be found or gathered...*AaaaaCeeeeCeeee, no rivals!!!*

My dearest Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo Sir, I would like to advise you again that the further AAUE is taken away from the theatrics and optics of daily Edo State politics, the better it would be for the Institution. It is on record that Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen's appointment as Chairman of the dissolved Governing Council was on merit and devoid of political considerations and power-play. I am yet to be told that he is a card-carrying Member of any of our Political Parties and this is without prejudice to those of you who have elected to serve the people by coming out of your comfort zones.

Whereas it is also true that nobody has the monopoly of knowledge and influence, it would amount to putting logic on its head to lose such a selfless Esan man, Edolite and Nigerian to the services of AAUE on the platter of politics. What our Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo may not be told by his Advisers because of political considerations is that the celebration and sense of renewed hope that greeted his coming into office is akin to what the Staff and Students of AAUE have been experiencing in the last 4 months under the headship of Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen led Governing Council. There is no need to lose this inviting aroma that had long been eclipsed at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

*Dr Andrew Eigbedion is  a Socio-Political Commentator and Resident reporting live from Ekpoma*(08032575077)