Harriet Uzochukwu
A group of academics from Imo State under the auspices of the Imo League of Intellectuals has distended themselves from the actions of the Pro-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, as a result of what they described as an "attempt at contaminating the academia with roguish political culture that he is notorious for".
Speaking to journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the spokesman of the group, Dr. Chikamnayo Uwakwe expressed regrets that Greg Mbadiwe has ridiculed the reputation of Imo State as one of the most educationally advanced States in the country through his shoddy handling of the appointments of a Registrar and Vice-Chancellor for renowned Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
"The Imo League of Intellectuals wishes to put it on record that Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe does not represent the true character and intellectualism of the average Imo person. Imo's enviable position as one of the most educationally advanced States in the country is not in doubt, and we are renowned as a people who idolize educational institutions as intellectual sanctums that must be insulated from the impunity and brigandage that has come to define the political undertakings of Mbadiwe's sponsors and enablers."
They assured members of the teaching and non-teaching staff and students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University of their unwavering solidarity to them in their struggle to "uproot the academic anathemas in the persons of Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, Dr. Bernard Odoh and Mrs. Nwokike who they described as "an incorrigible triumvirate of impunity and fraud"
The group expressed regrets that among the retinue of qualified, competent and reliable individuals in Imo State, especially, from within the intelligentsia, that an individual of questionable academic and moral pedigree like Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe could be chosen for such a sensitive and highly regarded assignment.
"Even with his aristocratic background as the son of the respected nationalist and First Republic politician, Greg's biggest credential outside being the son of K.O Mbadiwe is his various disgraceful political shenanigans, including, allegations of political thuggery, ballot box snatching, manipulation of election results and other dishonourable political activities over the past few decades. We are therefore not taken unawares by his scandalous outing as UNIZIK Pro-chancellor and would align with those who have requested for his recall from that assignment." He concluded.