Benin Development Union (BDU) has condemned attempts to derail the process of appointing a vice-chancellor for the University of Benin by raising ethnic concerns.
According to BDU, due process and not ethnicity should prevail in appointing a vice chancellor for the university.
BDU, a socio-cultural organisation in Edo State, was reacting to allegations by Benin United Front (BUF) that the outgoing VC, Prof. Lillian Salami, is plotting to manipulate the process to ensure candidates of Bini extraction do not emerge.
In a statement signed by BDU Director of Publicity, Dr. Franklin Ikuobase, it said the allegation by BUF is a “desperate outburst” meant to stir ethnic tension in an important academic decision.
BDU said the focus should be on due process and merit rather than ethnicity in selecting a successor for the outgoing VC.
They criticised those who introduced ethnic bias into the conversation, accusing them of launching attacks against Prof. Salami to disrupt a fair and transparent process.
