Abia, politics gets messier as T. A. Oji moves to revoke Kalu 's degree

Abia State governor, Chief Theodore A. Orji may have
taken the fight against his predecessor and benefactor,
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to a more desperate level as Daily
Sun reliably gathered that he is making subterranean
moves to revoke the degree awarded the former
governor by the Abia State University (ABSU) in 2002.
Gov. Orji who is invoking his powers as Visitor to the
university is said to be behind a move compelling the
varsity authorities to consider the recommendations of a
kangaroo investigative panel that allegedly looked into a
spurious petition lodged against the award of the
degree to Kalu by the university several years ago. Kalu
who had abandoned his degree programmme at the
University of Maiduguri had his transcript records and
other details transferred to ABSU while he was serving
as governor and eventually completed the programme
some eleven years ago.
In fact, photos of the then Governor Kalu sitting among
other students to write his semester exams made
interesting news for several newspaper houses then, as
they lavishly splashed them in their publications. Eleven
years down the line, however, Gov. T. A. Orji is said to
be desperate to withdraw the degree to score a political
point against Kalu whose return to the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) has sent cold shivers down the
spine of the governor and his allies.
Daily Sun gathered that the Senate of the University met
last Tuesday to consider the report of the investigative
panel hurriedly set up to look into the curious petition
filed by a yet to be unmasked petitioner. The panel
alleged, in an excerpt of its report obtained by Daily
Sun, that although there indeed “was a student by name
Kalu, O.U. with Matriculation Number 00/42226, who
supposedly transferred to Abia State University,” the
process of the transfer and the documentation was
incomplete and that “In effect, the said transfer of Kalu,
Orji U. into Abia State University was irregular ab initio.”
The Senate was, however, said to have dismissed the
report and recommendations of the panel, saying it was
hurriedly put together and did not follow due process.
Apart from the fact that the report was hurriedly done,
the Senate also noted that the Vice Chancellor as at the
time of the report, was never invited to give evidence
during the so-called investigation. Similarly, the Senate
noted, neither Kalu who is a central figure to the petition
nor any other key figure to the matter was invited to
testify.
Not satisfied, however, those believed to be bent on
scoring cheap political point with the matter are said to
have mounted pressure on most members of the Senate
to re-visit the matter. Consequently, an emergency
meeting at the university Senate has been convened
tomorrow with Kalu’s degree as the only item on the
agenda. A member of the Senate who spoke to Daily
Sun last night on the condition of anonymity said the
development is dangerous. “They should not bring
politics into academics because it will destroy the
institution,” he said.
Confirming that some members of the university Senate
have been under pressure since Tuesday, the source
said: “Yes, offers have been made to some members
after majority of us rejected the bid on Tuesday. With
the way things are now, I doubt whether we will have
quorum on Friday.” Reacting to the move yesterday, Dr.
Orji Uzor Kalu who is abroad said that the Abia State
government’s latest move has shown the level of
desperation of the government. Kalu who spoke through
his aide, Kunle Oyewunmi, said that “it is obvious that
this shameless desperation was provoked by my return
to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
If the governor is popular as he claims, why is he jittery
and desperate that one man is re-joining a party he co-
founded.” Kalu called on well-meaning Abians and
Nigerians to call Gov. T.A. Orji to order, adding that
Abians are yearning for dividends of democracy and the
governor has the responsibility to provide them.
Sounding philosophical, Kalu said that he is confident
that this “move will also come to pass because no
human being except God has the power to determine
any other person’s destiny.”