By Nelson Amaobi Osuala
12th of May 2015, 07:11pm
The president, Dr Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan has appointed the one time Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi , who is currently the seating Emir of Kano as UNIBEN pro-
chancellor
The former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
(Muhammad Sanusi II), was appointed this chair as the pro-chancellor of the University of Benin, Edo State, yesterday Monday 11th of May 2015 when he received his letter of appointment at his palace from the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau.
In the chronicles of the book of records, it was written that The former CBN boss who raised the issue of the missing money
at NNPC, said it is good to always do good.
In his words, “I’m saying this because as the governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria then, I came to the rescue of the university by spending N500 million to construct a bridge yearned for by the university for over 30 years.
He further informs that, “If at that time one told me I would reap the
reward of that job almost immediately I would not agree, but today, in Allah’s favour, I’m being appointed the pro-chancellor of the university,
something that is telling one that he should always think of being good not only to his close
people but to everybody far and near,” he said.
Commenting on the foregoing, we are tempted to ask Mr president, If he actually thought it through before making this appointed. To further ask, I just hope it is not the case that His Excellency is dancing to the tune of what I may call ” The politics of fear and favouritism”, which is beclouded by the popular slogan ‘if you scratch my back, I will do the same to you too’.
I am a little skeptical about this gesture by Mr president. My premise is informed by the fact that ‘sadly can you find any human actions that is not geared towards self preservation or other motives and interest ‘.
I have no personal grudge with His Excellency. To say the least, I commend him for what His administration has been able to achieve so far in this complex Nigeria of ours . In fact, “e no easy to lead dis country”
Nonetheless, my reservations and doubt to the above gesture is buttressed by the fact that..
some few years ago , If my small memory is precise, Last year, Mr president woke up from bed with a decision to rename the university of Lagos.
I suppose that he did not consult the powers that be. Niether did he meet minds with the ‘elder statesmen’ going by the condemning criticism that filled the media by enlightened minds after he (Dr Goodluck Jonathan) made such pronouncement.
I also doubt if he made enquiries from the Governing council of the institution for them to educate him on the History of the school and why it was so called nor did he produce his strong reasons for wanting to rename the university of Lagos. Without much ado, The university of Lagos is still so called. Any other name supposedly given by Mr president remains ceremonial, at least, to the best of my knowledge.
As I conclude this piece, I am compelled to felicitate with the Emir of Kano state for such honour conferred him. Whether this honour is well deserved and necessary or no, I cannot tell.