I was sacked because I’m from Ebonyi, says VC
Our Igbo brothers see us as inferior
By Chuks Okechukwu
The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Bernard Odoh has said that his ordeal at the Ivory Tower was due to his place of birth.
He said the recent announcement sacking him was motivated by intra-ethnic rivalry in Igboland.
He said he was sacked by fellow Igbo leaders who felt he comes from an inferior territory in Igboland which is Ebonyi State often referred to as “Wawa” by other Igbos.
Speaking further he said “Those matters are yet to be determined, and now the minister jumped the gun on a matter the Federal Ministry of Education is a party to as defendants. The court hasn’t ruled on this matter. So, I don’t see a basis for all of this noise.”
The Professor said he had been a victim of sub-ethnic rivalry in Igboland and that his sack was instigated by some Igbo leaders who did not like the idea of someone from Ebonyi state emerging as the Vice Chancellor of the University.
Odoh said his ordeal is linked to being a native of a “third class” state.
He said he would go to the university to ensure that accreditations and activities are properly done.
He said “I’m from Ebonyi State. We are regarded as third-class people. People feel I’m not qualified because I come from Ebonyi State. People have ganged up to remove me at all costs.
A source told Irohinoodua that Igbo people from Ebonyi State are often referred to as inferior by their fellow Igbo in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and Abia states
The Professor said “I am going to the university to ensure that activities and accreditation go on. The Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a crisis on campus. I am an alumnus of this university. It pains me that the university is being destroyed,” he said.
Also the Academic Staff Union of Universities have demonstrated support for him
The Union accused the Governing Council of the institution of failing to follow due process in Odoh’s appointment.
The Union is wants the ministry dissolve the council over acts of illegality.
What some people did was to pay somebody to remove my records from the university. The VC who appointed me still teaches at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and he wrote my reference letter,” he added.
He said the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, “jumped the gun” while taking the decision to sack him even in the face of four pending lawsuits on the issue.
