The Anambra State Government has explained the reasons behind the removal of rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU).
The government is alleging poor performance, failure to address critical infrastructural needs of the institution, and attempts to compromise the university’s vice-chancellor selection process.
The explanation was contained in an article by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, titled “Deconstructing and Reconstructing Prof. Odinkalu’s Tirades Against Governor Soludo.”
Mefor said Governor Chukwuma Soludo removed Odinkalu from office after becoming dissatisfied with his stewardship of the university, insisting that the former pro-chancellor failed to provide the leadership expected of him.
According to the Commissioner, despite serving as chairman of the university council between 2024 and 2026, Odinkalu allegedly did not bring the institution’s pressing infrastructural challenges to the attention of the government for intervention.
Mefor said it was only after Governor Soludo personally visited the institution that major infrastructural improvements were initiated.
“Governor Soludo has committed over N5 billion to the improvement of the state university following his visits. The university now has electricity, water supply, tarred roads, WiFi access and other improvements,” he stated.
The commissioner argued that identifying and presenting the university’s needs to government was one of the core responsibilities of the governing council and that Odinkalu failed in that regard.
“Odinkalu was removed from COOU for poor performance. Leaving him in the position would have meant the university would continue to stagnate under his watch,” Mefor wrote.
He further alleged that Odinkalu conducted what he described as a “sham” process in the selection of a substantive vice-chancellor for the institution and attempted to install a preferred candidate.
According to him, Governor Soludo intervened to protect the university’s integrity and ensure that merit prevailed in the appointment process.
Mefor maintained that the appointment of Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha as the university’s fifth substantive vice-chancellor was based on merit, alleging that Odinkalu had supported another candidate whom he described as less qualified.
The commissioner also accused the former pro-chancellor of running a divisive administration and failing to effectively address controversies that emerged within the university during his tenure.
He alleged that Odinkalu’s recent criticisms of Governor Soludo were motivated by resentment over his removal and the outcome of the vice-chancellor appointment process.
Mefor further dismissed Odinkalu’s public attacks on the governor as politically motivated, insisting that the former pro-chancellor’s criticisms were attempts to deflect attention from the circumstances surrounding his exit from the university.
Odinkalu has repeatedly criticised the Soludo administration on governance and public policy issues since his removal from office.
Meanwhile, in a response to the government’s allegations on his official X page, Odinkalu expressed disappointment that the Commissioner could not pin any substantial allegation to him, accusing him of being idle.
He wrote, “I’ll be kind to Dr Law Mefor. He even sucks at basic hatchetry. I am disappointed that a clearly idle and unemployed Commissioner of Adjectives could not find one allegation of contract racketeering or thievery to levy against me.”
