By Mike Aladenika
Edo State's governance under Godwin Obaseki's leadership has been marked by controversy. The Yoruba proverb, "E je ka pe were loko iyawo, ka le mo ohun ti nseni," ("Let the fool have his way, so we can make progress"), aptly describes the university community's experience.
However, Obaseki's recent utterances necessitate a response from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma's management, staff, and students, given his eight-year tenure and alleged mistakes, torture and systemic annihilation visited on the institution for the duration of his governorship.
Previous governors, from the founder, Professor Ambrose Folorunsho Alli, to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, made notable contributions to the university. However, Governor Godwin Obaseki's administration was marked by neglect and maladministration. The university suffered under his leadership, with a governing council and principal officers absent for nearly four years.
The consequences were severe: zero funding, staff victimization, selective salary payments, and deliberate non-remittance of staff deductions. Staff appraisal and promotion were delayed, and disciplinary matters were politicized. These actions had a devastating impact on the university community.
The Andrew Olowu Special Intervention Team (S.I.T) which was established in 2021 to reposition Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, has an ineffective intervention, even as it watered deeper crises for the institution.
The SIT's report, presented on May 11th, 2024 reportedly exposed certificate and transcript scandals, alleging staff and management extortion and corruption, including a N2bn tax fraud.
A responsible government would have taken punitive measures. However, Ex-Governor Obaseki's administration seemed uninterested in addressing these supposed anomalies. No judicial panel of inquiry was constituted to investigate the allegations. The question then remains: was the SIT setup merely a facade?"
Governor Godwin Obaseki's prediction that Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma would need a miracle to survive the next 10 years seems to have come true, but in a surprising twist, the miracle arrived earlier than expected. The current Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is credited with reviving the university through several key initiatives.
Governor Okpebholo approved a monthly subvention of N500 million, a significant increase from the previous N41 million under Obaseki's administration. This move has ended years of financial crisis and restored stability to the institution.
The appointment of a new governing council has brought renewed hope to the university community, with stakeholders praising the council's efforts in repositioning the institution.
The governor's intervention,in February 2025, resolved the induction crisis for 128 medical graduates who had spent up to 10 years in medical school without being inducted, while another 39 Medical graduates were also inducted in June 2025. 810 Nursing graduates were also inducted, with the swift intervention of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo.
There is a genuine progression in the resolution of the crisis of the Medical Laboratory Science students with the commencement of their long awaited professional examination and indexing.
This development has boosted morale among students and staff.
The University community currently enjoys a peace environment devoid of protests which were the hallmark of Governor Obaseki's administration for Eight years due to his non challant attitude and unfriendly policies.
It is worthy of note to state here that within one year in office, Governor Monday Okpebholo cleared the three years promotional stagnation of staff as he approves, through the instrumentality of the Governing Council led by Chief Dan Osi Orbih the promotion of, but not limited to, 56 academic staff to the rank of Professor and 57 to the rank of Associate Professor among others
Governor Okpebholo has also approved a cumulative convocation for November 2025, a significant milestone after a six-year hiatus under Obaseki's administration.
Furthermore, the governor has approved 1.5 megawatts of alternative energy to ensure uninterrupted power supply, a crucial step towards creating a conducive learning environment.
These initiatives have been welcomed by stakeholders, who praise Governor Okpebholo's commitment to revitalizing Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma. The university's Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunday Olowo Samuel, has vowed to reposition the institution to become a world-class university regardless of whatever political detractors, pessimists and other like Ex-Governor Obaseki may say. Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma is rising again.
It will be honorable for me to genuinely advise the immediate past governor of Edo State Mr Godwin Obaseki to face his private life as a supposed statesman even as the incumbent may have chosen the path of honor by not looking into the books of AAU, EKPOMA under Governor Obaseki's SIT.
AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY, EKPOMA survived the bad and dark years of Obaseki's government while the incumbent Governor Monday Okpebholo is moving it to greater heights, epitomises the tale of two governors. AAU IS RISING AGAIN.
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