The people of Mosogar Kingdom in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 took to the streets of the town to protest what they termed “unjust disqualification” of its citizen as Provost of the College of Education in the town.

To prevent breakdown of law and order, the leaders of the kingdom subsequently petitioned Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to promptly tackle the issue.

In the petition, the Mosogar Development Union specifically mentioned that in a just concluded interview for a Provost, they observed sadly that their own son, Dr Moses Ogheneovo Omayuli, who was shortlisted, cleared, and interviewed was unceremoniously disqualified on the basis of age even after coming out as the overall best with 84.90% among those interviewed.

All efforts to reach the Commissioner of Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, through his mobile number proved abortive neither did he respond to a text message sent to him.

The protest letter signed by Chief P. Ojarikre (the Ugo); Chief O. C. Akporokah, President-General of Mosogar Development Union; Comr Monday Odaka, President of Mosogar Elite Forum; Comr Oki Ebeigbe, the Mosogar Youth Forum President; and Madam Margaret Igah, Head of Mosogar Women Forum, the people said that a careful perusal of the advert for the post of Provost viz-a-viz the resume of the people shortlisted and interviewed shows clearly that some of the interviewees did not meet the academic experience needed for the position, alleging that as the host community, there is a well-orchestrated plan by 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 that their son should be availed the same 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. 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. Omayuli came first in the interview, he got an instruction via a phone call to disqualify him 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 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 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.

“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 interviewees. This result in the upscale of the original 65% mark scored by Dr. Imide Israel Onokero (a kinsman of the Council Chairman) to 89.40%.”

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