By Calista Oyeoba / Posted January 3, 2025
Edo State Governor Okpebholo is facing backlash for renaming Edo State University, Uzairue to Edo University, Iyamho without legislative approval. This move has raised legal and governance concerns, with many experts branding it as executive overreach.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
The university’s name change was announced via a December 30 press statement, which stated that the change took effect immediately.
However, this decision bypassed the legislative process required to amend the university’s name, since it was established by an act of law.
Prominent citizens argue that Governor Okpebholo’s actions demonstrate a disregard for the rule of law and democratic norms, noting that this incident was not the first time the Governor has been accused of over stepping his constitutional boundary.
It will be recalled that this is the third time the university’s name underwent metamorphosis, unfortunately. The crux of the matter is location. No more, no less, said a community leader who preferred anonymity. He said, ‘The land on which the university stands belong to the communities of Iyamho, Elele, and Ayua, which are all clans of the Uzairue-land. The unresolved issues that were previously set aside may have resurfaced again”.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
Interestingly, the Edo State University, Uzairue has been renamed about three times; the last time being 2020 when it was changed from ex-governor Oshiomole’s skewed name of Edo University, Iyamho (the name of his village) to Edo State University, Uzairue by his predecessor, ex-governor Godwin Obaseki, reflecting the correct geographic location encompassing the three communities of Iyamho-Uzairue, Elele-Uzairue and Ayua-Uzairue.
As Oshiomhole is a major ally and promoter of Governor Monday Okpebholo, it’s not difficult to do the add-ups of who’s behind this latest drive to change the name back to Iyamho. Oshiomhole, the university’s visionary founder hails from Iyamho.
Overall, what’s of utmost importance and of concern to stakeholders, is that, you cannot change the name of a state university established by law with a press release. This is why many observers feel that the people around Okpebholo are doing him a great disservice by not pointing him to the law.
Subscribe To The Best Team In Conservative, Business, Technology, Lifestyle And Digital News Realtime! support@ddnewsonline.com
The last time the name of the university was changed was in 2020. It is important to highlight that, every time prior to the latest change, it was changed via an amendment of the university’s establishment law by the state house of assembly. This “immediate effect” order is legally of no effect.
NOTE: Calista is on Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) at DDNEWSONLINE.COM from the Department of Mass Communication, Ekocity Polytechnic, Lagos.