Barely six months (1st December 2025) to the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor, VC of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, the media space has been crowded with all sorts of agitations, especially from the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, that, it is their turn. Huh?
Those shouting “Back-to-South” for the VC’ship are mostly from a certain tribe, even though we have other tribes in the District. No offense, it is what it is.
I detest tribalism and religiosity because it has caused us more harm than good as a country, and this 2025, I thought things would be different, but it is getting worse daily. We play the cards of selfish politicians who divide and rule us by creating senatorial districts, geopolitical zones, etc. When are we going to say, “enough is enough; we are tired of being used?” When?
At the federal – we talk of zoning; at the state – we talk of zoning. Now, at the citadels of hope (our precious institutions), we are also talking about zoning. Will the country go extinct before we will realize how bad the game we are playing is?
What happened to that Nigeria where competence, intellect, intelligence, innovation, etc., is (are) put first? Where everyone doesn’t think of who sits at the helm of affairs, but what the person offers. Where is that Nigeria?
It pains me to see how people who call themselves Cross Riverians whip out insults, curses, and abuses on those calling for things to be done the right way.
The University of Calabar has released an advertisement for the Vice Chancellorship position, and in no sentence or listing was it stated that zoning is the requirement. In case you have not seen the advertisement, here is the excerpt…
The candidate for the office of the Vice Chancellor:
(i) Must hold the rank of Professor for at least ten (10) years by 1st December 2025.
(ii) Have a distinguished academic record with significant contributions to research and scholarship.
(iii) Hold a PhD in any academic field.
(iv) Be an acclaimed scholar who is a professor of high repute and must have published in academic journals that are both of National and International repute.
(v) Have had a wide range of academic and administrative experience.
(vi) Exhibit strong leadership skills with the ability to drive academic and administrative excellence.
Below is the full-page advertisement as published by the institution.
Isn’t the “Back-to-South” for the VC position being too petty? Currently, the South heads almost all the institutions in the state – from North to South. So, why the sentiment for the UNICAL VC’ship?
Those calling for it for selfish interest are very wicked. Yes, very wicked. Meanwhile, this is a position that anyone, anywhere in the country, can contest – since it is a Federal Government institution. Why are Cross Riverians fighting themselves, using tribal slurs on each other? No wonder, good things are being taken away from the state.
I don’t care who emerges as the VC; all I want is someone who can improve the school – that person can come from anywhere, even outside the state.
Talking about fairness, the South has helmed that institution four good times, the Central thrice and the North, once; who is not being fair? Records don’t lie, you can see that below:
Southern Senatorial District = 4:
– Prof. Charles E. Effiong
– Prof. Solomon Unoh
– Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu
– Prof. Bassey Okon Asuquo
Central Senatorial District = 3
– Prof. Kevin M. Ogon-Etta
– Prof. James Epoke
– Prof. Florence Banku Obi
Northern Senatorial District = 1
– Prof. Zana Akpagu
Come to think of it, isn’t the North supposed to be atop this? There are currently about 14 institutions (federal and state owned) in the state and seven of them are being headed by people from Cross River South while the Central and North have five and two respectively
Who’s not being fair? Look at the facts below by yourself:
Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Cross River State According to Senatorial Districts:
1. University of Calabar VC (Outgoing) – Central
2. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH Chief Medical Director, CMD – South
3. University of Cross River State, UNICROSS Acting VC – South
4. University of Education and Entrepreneurship (Former College of Education) Akamkpa Acting VC – South
5. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital CMD – Central
6. Federal College of Education, FCE Obudu Provost – North
7. Federal Polytechnic Ugep Rector – Central
8. College of Health Technology, COHTECH Acting Provost – South
9. UCTH College of Nursing Sciences Provost – South
10. UCTH School of Health Information Management Provost – South
11. College of Nursing Sciences Calabar Provost – Central
12. College of Nursing Sciences Ogoja Provost – Central
13. College of Nursing Sciences Itigidi Provost – South
14. College of Nursing Sciences Obudu Provost – North
Now, tell me why you are shouting “Back-to-South” with the Governor also coming from the South?
Frank Ulom, a journalist, and publisher of The Converseer, is a Cross Riverian and writes in from Calabar.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Frank Ulom, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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