Emeka Kairo

Armed, masked police men are currently in University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. They came, went to the Deputy CMAC’s office and dragged out a whole professor of medicine like a thief, they beat up and threatened to shoot staffs who tried intervening. The hospital gate has been shut down, medics and non medical staff have blocked the gate.

Allowing criminal elements to take control of a country never ends well.

UNN Liason officer wrote this about me. Kindly read and share your thoughts… *Alex Onyia's Condemnation vs Soludo's Example of True Alumni Spirit in UNN* An alumnus is more than a former student. He is a lifelong ambassador of the institution that helped shape his intellect, character and future. True alumni spirit is measured not merely by criticism, but by commitment, constructive contribution and a sincere desire to see one’s alma mater progress. It is against this backdrop that it becomes necessary to examine the recent conduct of Mr. Alex Onyia and the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, both of whom visited the University of Nigeria the same week. For many years after graduating from the University of Nigeria, Alex Onyia appeared disconnected from the affairs and development of his alma mater. Yet, when invited by his faculty to deliver the Herbert Macaulay Memorial Lecture, an honour reserved for distinguished alumni expected to inspire students and contribute positively to intellectual discourse, he chose instead to turn the occasion into a public spectacle aimed at embarrassing the University. Rather than focusing on mentorship and inspiring students, Alex Onyia mounted the podium threatening legal action against the university over the condition of some aging hostels. More troubling was the calculated manner in which he arrived with Afia Television crew, not primarily to document the academic event, but to showcase decaying infrastructure in a manner designed to ridicule the university before the public. What makes this behaviour particularly unfair is that he was most likely aware that the university management, under Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya had already awarded contracts for the renovation of some of the hostels, including Eni-Njoku, the hostel in question. Responsible stakeholders who genuinely care about the University's progress acknowledge ongoing efforts even while advocating for improvement. Instead, Alex Onyia ignored these realities and proceeded with a campaign of sensationalism. His subsequent appearance on live television, where he reportedly declared that the entire University of Nigeria was “stinking,” crossed the line from criticism into outright disparagement. No institution is perfect, especially public universities operating under severe funding constraints in Nigeria. However, reducing a historic institution such as the University of Nigeria to insulting soundbites before a national audience reflects poorly not only on the institution but also on the individual making such statements. Even more disturbing was what followed a day after his televised outburst. Alex Onyia allegedly made claims that the university management had evicted a visually impaired student whom he had interviewed during his tour of the hostel facilities. The allegation quickly generated public sympathy and outrage. However, the claims were subsequently debunked by the university authorities as well as independent individuals and groups who investigated the matter. Among those who reportedly interacted directly with the visually impaired student was the National Association of Nigerian Students, which also contradicted the allegation that the student had been victimized or unjustly removed by the university management. The contradiction of Mr. Onyia’s claims by multiple independent voices inevitably raises serious questions about his intentions and credibility.