A pressure group under the aegis of Old Bende Young Professionals has threatened to occupy the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, over the alleged refusal of the institution’s Governing Council to release the promotion of one of its lecturers, Dr Philips Nto, to the rank of professor.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Chima Ogbonna, and secretary, Chief Dike Okwara, the group accused the Governing Council chairman, Fidelis Edeh, of deliberately stalling Nto’s promotion, which they insist has been due since 2021. They described the situation as a grave injustice and an act of victimisation targeted at both Nto and the people of Abia State.

The group framed the dispute as an affront to Abia indigenes, alleging that an official from neighbouring Enugu State had come to “oppress” an Abia son on his home turf. They said Nto’s complaints over the delay, especially when his peers and even junior colleagues had already been elevated to professorial rank, were “heart-breaking and provocative.”

Old Bende Young Professionals issued an ultimatum to the council chairman, demanding that Nto’s case be either approved or formally rejected at the next council meeting. Failure to do so, they warned, would trigger “the mother of all protests” and a physical occupation of the university campus.

The group further alleged that some academics at the university had been promoted to professor without supervising any postgraduate students, while Nto, whom they described as having “discharged his duties creditably,” was being punished over internal politics. Their own investigation, they claimed, pointed to personal bias and vendetta rather than any deficiency in Nto’s qualifications.

They noted that Abia staff had supported Edeh since his arrival at the institution, only for him to “turn round to victimize one of our brightest stars.” Nto, a former Abia State commissioner and provost of a tertiary institution, was portrayed as a respected figure whose “unblemished career and reputation” must not be tarnished.

The group called on Enugu State governor Peter Mbah to caution Edeh in order to avert what they termed “interstate disorder,” vowing to pursue the matter to its “logical conclusion.”

Nto, at a recent press briefing, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education to intervene. He alleged that his promotion was being withheld because he refused to pressure the university’s vice chancellor to manipulate the 2023 Enugu State governorship election in favour of a particular candidate, for whom Edeh allegedly served as campaign director.

Responding, Edeh dismissed the claims as mere allegations from a staff member. He maintained that the Governing Council does not “release” promotions but only approves recommendations from the appointments and promotions committee headed by the vice chancellor, insisting that council’s role is limited to oversight and not day-to-day administration.