* Edeoga

 By Tony Icheku, Umuahia

  Former Vice Chancellor, Professor Hilary O. Edeoga should be in prison rather than seeking  appointment as the Executive Director of National Roots Crop Research Institute, NRCRI, Umudike, Abia State, says the traditional rulers of the land donors communities in Ikwuano local government area and Umuahia South local government area  on whose lands the Institute is sited.

  Summarily, the royal fathers declare that from his antecedents, specifically his terror-infested administration and corruption ridden regime at his last position, Prof Edeoga should be the least person to be considered for the sensitive office. ''The activities of the aforestated Professor Hilary O. Hilary and his crimes remain inexhaustible. The corrupt practices were so horrible and monumental that he ought to be in prison by now if the needful was fully done'', the traditional rulers argued in a petition to the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. 

  Prof Edeoga, professor of plant taxonomy was the VC of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, from 2011 to 2016, and the traditional rulers of the eight landowners communities which host both MOUAU and NRCRI allege that his records as the VC leaves much to be desired and ought to be revisited by the appropriate authorities in line with the Federal Government's zero tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices. 

  The petitioners noted that earlier, they had compiled the most shocking, bizzare and unspeakable actions and inactions of Edeoga's administration, but the Visitation Panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari were either compromised or choose to do a shoddy job. 

 They added that they are now forced to raise the issue again for proper investigations, and to register their opposition to appointment of Edeoga as Executive Director of NRCRI, and subsequently impose him  on the communities. The royal fathers maintained their communities are yet to overcome the trauma, untold hardship, misery and sorrow inflicted on them by Edeoga in his reign as MOUAU's VC. 

 Indeed, various weighty allegations bothering on abuse of office, acts of impunity, corruption and breach of regulations were raised against the former VC in the petition titled ''Spontaneous reaction, vehement opposition and protest over the shortlisting of Prof Hilary Edeoga for the Executive Director's position and or further screening thereof''. Amongst others, Edeoga was accused of several acts of infractions and breach of laid down due process as captured in the Universities of Agriculture (Act) No. 48 of 1982 in the employment and promotion of staff during his tenure. The petitioners citing examples insist that such infraction by Edeoga of the law governing the employment of staff 'has been causing a lot of problem till date'. ''It is expedient to state further that employment for the highest bidder became the order of the day as money or gratifications/bribery were glamorised'', they further maintained. 

  The petitioners also accused Edeoga of academic fraud, and manipulation of the system to favour his wife, Mrs Georgina Edeoga. Edeoga, the petitioners maintain, while at MOUAU failed to provide academic leadership, as under him 50% of the university's accredited programmes lost full accreditation, while one was denied accreditation, attracting ban on new students intake. 

  The former VC was further accused of ripping students off by not only imposing outrageous, inflated hostel fees of #60,800 (sixty thousand, eight hundred naira) on all undergraduates, but failing to provide such accommodation or make refund subsequently. 

  Summing up, the traditional rulers state: ''We, the traditional rulers feel quite pained that a man who left a legacy of woe by posthumously awarding contracts,  and employment, knowing same to be illegal and further shrouded in illegality cannot by any means be considered in any manner whatsoever. ''NRCRI cannot survive the violent corrupt practices of Prof Hilary O. Edeoga whose greed and avarice need not be overemphasized'', the royal fathers affirmed in the petition signed by HRM Eze C U Ejirika, Ugwu Oha 1 of Awom Na Ebo Autonomous Community, Oboro - Ikwuano, and four others. Eze Ejirika is also the chairman, Ikwuano Traditional Rulers Council.

  Others who signed the petition copied to the at Secretary to Government of Federation; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation; the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, plus five others, include HRM King Larry O Agwu, Onyeoru 1 of Ajatanaigu, Ajatanaigu Autonomous Community in Ikwuano LGA. King Larry Agwu is chairman, Oboro Traditional Rulers Council.

 Other signatories to the petition include HRM Eze G C Onwuka, Towe 1 of Umutowe Autonomous Community, Olokoro, in Umuahia South LGA. and two others from Umuahia South LGA . He is also the chairman, Umuahia South Tradional Rulers Council.

 Other royal fathers who signed the petition include Eze S N Ubani, Eze Ukwu 1 of Umuoparaozara, Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA; Eze C E Ironsi, Awom II of Awom Oboro Autonomous  Community, Ikwuano LGA; And  Eze Ben Oriaku, Dike 1 of Umudike-Ukwu Autonomous Community, Oboro, Ikwuano LGA.

 Also signatories to the petition are HRH Eze J P Anyaegbu, Dike Oha Ii of Umudike Autonomous Community, Oboro, Ikwuano and HRH Eze (Prof) Innocent Ezeala of Ibu-Uzo Autonomous Community, Oboro, Ikwuano LGA.