Abia state government says it has no hand in the withdrawal of the degree result and certificate of the former governor of Abia state, Uzor Kalu, saying that it is entirely an academic exercise carried out by the school.
The commissioner for Information and strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo who stated this while briefing the press in Umuahia said the Abia state university enjoys some level of independence, while the day to day management of the institution is detached from the state government.
According to him, the state government does not interfere in the affairs of the university which has a well constituted senate, adding that it is preposterous and grossly misleading for anybody to ascribe the decision of withdrawing the former governor’s certificate to the chief TA Orji-led government.
He stated that the university withdrew the certificate on the basis of its merit as the former governor did not meet the requirements for the award of the certificate and cautioned that no person or group should politicize that academic exercise or draw the Abia state government into the fray.
The information commissioner also debunked the claim by the former governor of a shootout at the gate of his residence and stated that there was no such incident at all.
He revealed that there have been plans by Uzor Kalu to recruit youths to cause mayhem in the state and warned that the state government will not sit by and allow anyone alter the peace in the state.
Also speaking, the chief press secretary to the governor, Ugochukwu Emezue said it was not true that soldiers and the police brutalized students of Abia state university who were protesting the withdrawal of the former Abia state governor’s degree certificate.