In the last one year, the Federal University, Lokoja has witnessed tremendous changes in the right traditions of academic excellence and infrastructural development worthy of praise and emulation. Those changes have been widely reported beyond the confines of the Federal University, in the Confluence State and outside the shores of Nigeria. These changes are due to the determination of Professor Olayemi Akinwumi who was appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University about a year ago as well the support of progressive elements within the University Community and other well meaning stakeholders.
Inspite of the giant strides recorded by Professor Akinwumi and his team, we are hearing voices (or better still noises) from faceless groups and individuals who on their own have refused to join the train of progress in the pursuit of making Federal University, Lokoja a centre of excellence in every sense of the word. These noises or distractions are possibly from internal and external persons who lost out in the keenly contested race for the position of Vice Chancellor.
Unfortunately, some of them are yet to reconcile themselves to the new reality. Some of the distractors are persons who seemed to sold to the past so much that they are unable to realise that the train has left the station.
The leadership and consensus building strategies of Professor Akinwumi stands him out as a thorough bred academia and administrator.
The Okun People’s Front is proud of him. And it is not just because he is ‘our own’, it is much more because he has risen beyond the confines of quota, ethnicity and religious bigotry to transform the University and set it in motion to actualize the dreams of the founding fathers and stakeholders. It is in the light of these, that we say Enough of Distractions, let Professor Akinwumi and his team continue with the task ahead.
The journey is still long but we are seeing the goals on the horizon. All of us who have a stake in the Federal University, Lokoja and indeed the Nigerian University system should therefore rally round Professor Akinwumi so that he can continue to keep his eyes on the ball to score many more goals and take the University to the summit of academic excellence and universal recognition.
These goals will be attained in an atmosphere of peace and cooperation. There should be an end to baseless and unfounded allegations that are meant to distract and not to develop.
Again, we say enough of distractions, Professor Akinwumi should be allowed to focus on his work and complete his tenure in peace and for the good of the University system.
Signed:
(Alara) Pastor Ben Ayo Abereoran
National President
Barr Anthony Olusegun Odana
National Secretary
