The Battle for Integrity at FUHSO: Why Idoma must not remain silent

By Edwin Adakole

The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), once hailed as a symbol of promise and progress for the Idoma people, now teeters on the edge of institutional collapse. In what should be a time of growth and development, FUHSO is instead embroiled in a crisis driven by lawlessness, disregard for protocol, and, alarmingly, silence from key figures within the Idoma community.

This ongoing crisis centers around the imposition of Prof. Ediga Agbo, who, despite not being a staff member or a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) in violation of the clear directives set forth by the National Universities Commission (NUC). This disregard for established protocols not only tarnishes FUHSO’s reputation but also erodes the foundational principles upon which the university was built.

The Disregard for NUC Protocols: A Blow to Institutional Integrity

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has mandated a clear protocol for leadership transition across Nigerian universities: when a VC’s term ends, they must hand over to the most senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. In the case of FUHSO, Prof. Stephen Abah, an accomplished academic and bonafide son of Idoma, holds the position of DVC (Academics) and ranks highest in seniority. His appointment as Acting VC was, therefore, not only rightful but also aligned with NUC guidelines.

FUHSO is no ordinary university. It was established as a specialized institution dedicated to the health sciences—a vital part of Nigeria’s higher education landscape, and a stepping stone for Idoma’s future in medical and scientific excellence. It’s a university whose primary mandate is to produce medical professionals, and its standards must reflect that specialized purpose. Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Prof. Ediga Agbo—neither a member of FUHSO’s staff nor a qualified medical professional was imposed on the university as Acting VC.

This act was not just a violation of protocol; it was a direct affront to due process and transparency. How can an unqualified leader hope to sustain or improve an institution that is already struggling with its own growth and development?

The Ripple Effect of Negligence and Impunity

The consequences of Agbo’s leadership reach far beyond administrative challenges. Agbo’s tenure thus far has included the removal of respected faculty members from critical meetings, the seizing of official vehicles from staff without justification, and even the locking of university gates in an attempt to prevent rightful university leaders from entering. Reports indicate that police and hired thugs now roam the campus, harassing and intimidating any staff members perceived as loyal to the legitimately reinstated Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Innocent Ujah.

This hostility and lawlessness have turned FUHSO from a sanctuary of learning into a militarized zone where students and faculty alike live in fear. Campus facilities remain virtually abandoned due to the fear of violence. Every day the crisis persists, Idoma loses one more step toward self-reliance, development, and a brighter future.

Crisis in Leadership: How FUHSO’s Governing Council Threatens Its Future

Governing councils are meant to guide universities towards growth and stability, but at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), the council under Engr. Ohieku Abdulsalami has brought about chaos instead.

Rather than respecting established protocols, the council appears to be running amok, blurring lines of authority and encroaching on daily operations in ways that threaten FUHSO’s core mission and integrity.

This overreach has manifested in decisions that defy both protocol and law. The appointment of Prof. Ediga Agbo as Acting Vice-Chancellor, despite him not being a staff member or the institution’s most senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, starkly violates National Universities Commission (NUC) protocols, which require an outgoing VC to hand over to the most senior DVC. At FUHSO, this is Prof. Stephen Abah, DVC (Academics), who was rightfully elected by the university senate. Yet the council bypassed him, imposing Agbo and creating a leadership crisis that has sparked tension and disrupted campus life.

The effects of this turmoil are undeniable. Faculty and students operate under fear of reprisal, classrooms stand empty, and security forces now patrol a campus once dedicated to research and teaching. FUHSO’s mission—to advance health sciences and serve as a beacon for Idoma and the nation—is jeopardized by this instability. The governing council’s actions are not merely administrative missteps; they are active threats to the institution’s future.

It’s time for accountability. The FUHSO governing council must answer for these disruptive actions, which risk not only the university’s reputation but its very ability to function. Silence from community leaders and stakeholders is no longer an option. FUHSO’s future depends on a return to order, respect for university governance, and a commitment to its foundational mission. Anything less risks destroying what this university stands for.

The Targeted Attacks on Prof. Stephen Abah: A Tribal Undercurrent

Prof. Stephen Abah’s character and qualifications make him a natural leader for FUHSO, an institution that serves as a beacon for the Idoma people. Yet, his ascension to Acting VC has made him a target. It’s been noted that Prof. Abah, an “Enone”—a sub-clan within Idoma—faces attacks from those who deem leadership within FUHSO the exclusive domain of “Enochi.” The caste-driven conflict is preventing an Idoma institution from fostering unity and excellence, damaging the credibility of a university that should be a pillar for all Idoma, not a select few.

Agbo’s appointment and the ensuing attacks on Prof. Abah represent more than just a leadership crisis; they signify a perilous tribal and political power struggle. This struggle, bolstered by a wealthy “Enochi” financier, has fostered an environment in which due process is subverted, unity is eroded, and impunity reigns.

The Dire Consequences of Silent Complicity

This unchecked lawlessness poses severe consequences for FUHSO, the Idoma people, and Nigeria’s higher education landscape. Without urgent action to restore order, FUHSO will be unable to fulfill its mission as a specialized health sciences institution.

Here’s what Idoma stands to lose:

1. Credibility in Health Sciences Education:

Allowing an unqualified Acting VC to lead FUHSO risks diluting the university’s focus on health sciences, hindering its ability to attract qualified staff and deliver top-tier education.

2. Threat to Students and Staff Safety:

The administration’s use of thugs and police to intimidate those supporting Prof. Abah has created a climate of fear on campus. Reports of harassment, gate lockouts, and confrontations have left the campus desolate, disrupting academic activities and posing a threat to students and faculty alike.

3. Erosion of Idoma’s Legacy:

FUHSO was built to serve as a lasting legacy for the Idoma people—a source of pride and a pathway for the next generation of medical and scientific professionals. Failure to uphold due process and unity erodes this legacy, reducing FUHSO to a mere pawn in personal and political agendas.

4. Stifling of Idoma’s Growth and Unity:

Silence from Idoma’s leaders in the face of such blatant injustice does more than allow chaos to continue; it implies acceptance. This crisis represents a critical moment for Idoma leadership, a chance to assert the value of integrity, unity, and excellence over division and impunity.

A Call for Accountability: Idoma’s Leaders Must Speak Up

The current trajectory of FUHSO’s administration, enabled by silence from within Idoma, puts the institution’s survival at risk. Idoma leaders—cultural, political, and community figures alike—must rise to the occasion. By remaining silent, they tacitly allow FUHSO’s future to be dictated by outsiders and undermine the very institution built to empower their youth.

The law, the NUC’s mandate, and the will of the FUHSO community unequivocally recognize Prof. Stephen Abah as the legitimate Acting VC. Agbo’s imposition, lacking any legal or ethical grounding, must be contested by all who value the rule of law.

This crisis is a defining moment for FUHSO and for Idoma itself. Will its leaders defend the principles of unity and integrity, or will they allow the erosion of a vital educational institution? Silence is not neutrality; it is complicity in the destruction of an institution that could empower generations.

(Adakole, President of Idoma Integrity Network, writes from Otukpo)