COE: Tension In Mosogar, As Community Threatens Showdown With DTSG Over Disqualification Of Indigene As Provost

…Sends Protest Letter To Okowa
…Says Institution’s Governing Council Wants To Shortchange, Humiliate, Mock Community
By Daniel Dafe
Mosogar Community in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State has threatened a showdown with the Delta State Government over the disqualification of their indigene, Dr. Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli, after he emerged the best candidate for the position of Provost, Delta State College of Education (COE), Mosogar, during the interview process.
A community leader under conditions of anonymity added that the disqualification was a deliberate manipulation by the state government to sideline the community and deny the rightful candidate his place on the flimsy excuse of his age.
A protest letter by community leaders to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa dated 8th May, 2020, read in part: “We want to specifically thank you for the good work you have done in Mosogar, as it affects the successful change of the college’s name from Delta State College of Physical Education to a full-fledged College of Education, Mosogar, an issue that lingered for years before God brought you to redeem us. You also ensured the completion of the abandoned indoor sports hall project in the college.
“Your administration also gave appointment to our sons and daughters in various capacities in addition to the rehabilitation of failed portions of Mosogar roads. We greatly appreciate you for these, your Excellency.
“This is to bring to your notice that Delta State College of Education has been in existence for eighteen years and it may interest you to know that no indigene of Mosogar Kingdom has ever had the privilege of becoming the college’s substantive Provost, despite the fact that the kingdom is not short of qualified persons.
“Your Excellency Sir, we want you to use your good office to translate the principle of local content in governance as your administration is known for to avail us this opportunity to serve in the college as a substantive Provost.”
They continued: “In a just concluded Provost interview, we observed sadly that our own son, Dr. Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli who was shortlisted, cleared and interviewed was unceremoniously disqualified after coming out as the overall best among those interviewed with 84.90 percent. The reason given for his disqualification is very unacceptable to us as a community.”
Furthermore, they alleged that 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 from the Ministry of Establishment, Mr. Joseph Uwanogho cleared him stating he is still within the age bracket of 60 years as advertised; hence he is qualified to be interviewed.
“This disqualification we feel is not just unacceptable but also inconsistent with the previous practice for colleges of education in the state. For example Dr. D.D Whawo, was appointed a substantive Provost of College of Education, Mosogar 2013 at age 62; Prof. Emmanuel Ojeme was appointed Provost of same College of Education, Mosogar in 2015 at age 63; Dr. Ukadike, Provost College of Education, Agbor, became Provost in 2016 at the age of 62 years.
“This is not to mention, Mr. Otalor, the Registrar, College of Education, Agbor whose appointment came at the age of 57 years as against 55 years stipulated,” they added.
“We are reliably informed by the Council Chairman that sequel to the phone call he received, he had to raise the original scores of some of the interviewees. This resulted in the upshot of the original 65 percent mark scored by Dr. Imide Israel Onokero (a kinsman of the Council Chairman) to 89.40 percent,” they said.
They continued: “A careful perusal of the advert for the post of Provost viz-a-viz the CVs of the people shortlisted, cleared and interviewed shows clearly that some of these persons do not meet the academic experience required for the position. For example, Dr. Imide Israel Onokero and Dr. Nathaniel Ethe both do not possess the minimum 5 years experience as chief lecturer.
“To us as the host community, such is a well orchestrated plan by the governing council to ensure we are well short-changed, humiliated, mocked, and relegated to the background.”
According to them, Mosogar Community is not one which agitates for selfish or uncivil cases.
“We place priority on merit. This explains why in 2015 even though our own daughter Dr. Philomena Oyarone shortlisted and interviewed for same position came up third, the President General of UPU, Engr. Chief J.O. Omene, prevailed on the then state governor, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, to appoint an Ika man, Prof. E Ojeme as substantive Provost based on merit.
“However, we accepted the recent disqualification of the College Bursar because this is the position of the law according to government white paper. All these we perceive as the fallout from the political/ideological differences between one of our sons and some of your political aides,” they averred.
The letter also read: “The kingdom is peaceful and law-abiding, politically geared towards your S.M.A.R.T agenda as demonstrated by the overwhelming support we gave to you in your first and second tenure elections. It will still interest you to know that from the inception of your administration as the governor of Delta State, no report of breach of peace has been recorded against Mosogar Community.”
They said that a timely intervention by the state government to their appeal to allow their son head the institution will preserve the existing peaceful coexistence between the college community and Mosogar Kingdom.