Crises rocks Mosogar over ‘unjust disqualification’ of its indigene as College Provost

By Shedrack Onitsha & Ovasa Ogaga,

People of Mosogar Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, today, took to the streets to protest what they termed unjust disqualification of its citizen as Provost of the Delta State College of Education Mosogar.

The protesters who stormed the street and blocked the Warri-Benin road at Mosogar junction at about 7:30 am carrying a casket with an inscription, “Loveth Idisi we nor go gree,” had earlier blocked the school main entrance preventing academics and nonacademic staffs from gaining entering into the school.

But for the timely intervention of the leaders of the kingdom, the protest was almost turning violence, as some of the non-indigene staff of the college were seen leaving for fear of been attacked.

To foster breakdown of law and order, the leaders of the kingdom subsequently wrote a letter to the Governor of the State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to tackle the issue before it degenerates to a breakdown of law and order.

The Mosogar Development Union in the letter addressed to the Governor, obtained by our correspondent, decried the unceremonious disqualification of its citizen, Dr Moses Ogheneovo Omayul who had was earlier shortlisted, cleared and interviewed and came out as the best among the candidates.

The protest letter signed by Chief P. Ojarikre (the Ugo of Mosogar Kingdom) Chief (Col) O.C Akporokah, (the President General of Mosogar Development Union, the President of Mosogar Elite Forum, including the youth and women stated that after a careful study of the advert, for the post of provost viz-a-viz the CVs of the people shortlisted and interviewed shows clearly that some of these persons did not meet the academic experience needed for the position.

They adding that as the host community there is a well-orchestrated plan by the Chairman of the Governing Council and the Ministry of Higher Education to ensure that the kingdom is not only short-changed but also mocked and relegated to the background.

Speaking to our correspondent on the crises, the former council chairman of Ethiope West, Dr Wilson Omene cited instances of provost appointments made despite their ages, saying their son should be avail of this opportunity to serve in the college as a substantive Provost.

According to him “in the just-concluded Provost interview, we observed sadly that our son, Dr Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli who was shortlisted, cleared and interviewed was unceremoniously disqualified after coming out as the overall best with 84.90% among those interviewed.

“The reasons given for his disqualification is totally unacceptable to us as a community for the following under listed reasons:

“The chairman of the governing council, Hon. Chief Lovette Idisi categorically said that although Dr Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli came first in the interview, he got an instruction via a phone call to disqualify him (Dr Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli) on the basis of age.

“Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary Establishment, Asaba; Mr Joseph Uwanogho, cleared him stating he is still within the age bracket of 60 years as advertised, hence he is qualified to be qualified interviewed. This we feel is not just acceptable but also inconsistent with the previous practice for the college of education in the state. For example;

“Dr D.D Whawo was appointed a substantive Provost of College of Education, Mosogar in 2013 at age 62 and retired at the age of 65 years.

“Prof. Emmanuel Ojeme was appointed Provost of the same college of Education, Mosogar in 2015 at age 63 and left at the completion of his tenure in March 2020. Same is Dr Ukadike, Provost College of Education Agbor, who became Provost in 2016 at the age of 62 years and still in service.

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“The is not to mention, Mr Otalor, the Registrar, College of Education, Agbor whose appointment came at the age57 years as against 55 years stipulated and still in service.

“We are reliably informed by the Council Chairman that sequence to the phone call he received; he had to raise the original scores of some of the interviewee’s. This result in the upshot of the original 65% mark scored by Dr Imide Israel Onokero (a kinsman of the Council Chairman) to 89.40%.

When contacted, to reacting to the allegation, the Commissioner of Higher Education Prof. Patrick Muoboghare said an advert was placed on major newspapers stating the qualifications, “and one of the qualifications was 60 years of age, the advert did not say being an Indigene of Mosogar qualifies you to be a sole candidate, anyone applying for a position should assess himself if he is qualified or not, not to play on the sentiment of an indigene,” he said.