By Osahon Jude Ewere
The death of Chief Dan Orbih, the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma is now a subject of discussion in various quarters. While some celebrate the exit of someone they perceived as their enemy who, to them, has allegedly blocked them from feasting on the resources and finances of the university, others, within the university community, the state and Nation are crying over the circumstances surrounding his death which they alleged could be likened to an African adage that says, "the witch cried yesterday and the child died the next morning, do you need to be told that the witch feasted on the baby?"
If the statement allegedly credited to the Vice Chancellor that, "no be who dey alive dey remove somebody" is anything to go by, then the circumstances surrounding Dan Orbih's death is beyond conventional medical challenges that may be advanced.
Unconfirmed reports say, the Dan Orbih led council was closing up on the management on alleged financial infractions to the extent that a council committee headed by Elder stateman, Prof Iyayi, was instituted to probe the Vice Chancellor. The committee is said to have submitted its report, yet to be deliberated upon at the main Governing Council meeting.
Insight into the report, however, indicated a classical indictment of the current university management of high-level fraud, thus justifying the alleged statement "no be who dey alive dey remove somebody?"
There are also unconfirmed reports that the fear of Voodoo, as displayed by the voodoo queen, makes a good sense to whosoever wants to live long as she was reportedly quoted as saying that "whosoever stands on my way is sure to go six-feet below".
With this, a seed of palpable fear has been sown in the minds of staff of the University. In reputable institutions, power is exercised through rules, statutes and established procedures. In Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, power now resembles something darker, where influence replaces competence, fear replaces respect and rumour becomes more powerful than official communication.
This is the story of a woman who arrived at the centre of authority not because she was the most qualified, nor because she had earned the confidence of the people she was expected to serve, but because a powerful “Godfather” had decided that she should occupy the office.
Her appointment immediately became controversial.
Those who questioned her qualifications were labelled enemies. Those who asked for due process were branded troublemakers. Those who expected restraint from an occupant of such an important office soon discovered that they were dealing with someone who appeared to regard the office not as a responsibility, but as a weapon.
She came into the office with a reputation for recklessness, meetings became battlegrounds. Established procedures were allegedly treated as inconveniences. Personal disagreements acquired the appearance of institutional disputes. Friends were rewarded with access, while perceived enemies discovered that the machinery of authority could suddenly become remarkably efficient against them.
According to unconfirmed reports making the rounds within the community, the Council Chairman had become one of her principal targets. One rumour claimed that she had vowed that the Chairman would never again hold a meeting in the institution. Another, far darker rumour began making the rounds. It was said that a photograph of the Chairman had somehow found its way into the hands of a marabout, accompanied by sinister intentions. Not long afterwards, "The Man Died".
No evidence ever publicly established a connection between the rumour and the death. Yet in an atmosphere already saturated with fear, coincidence was enough to transform whispers into legend and legends, once they take root, can become more frightening than facts.
People then began to look, guide themselves and be guarded with their talks.
Members of staff allegedly received warnings not to disclose certain official information. Some claimed they were threatened by the voodoo queen with a permanent visit to the grave if they spoke publicly. Others preferred silence—not because they had nothing to say, but because they were afraid of what happened to the Chairman of council
A strange expression began circulating that the University appears jinxed. This postulation may not necessarily be a statement of fact. It is an expression of fear. Staff are wondering who would be the next target.
Who would suddenly fall ill like the Chaiman?
Who would die?
And who would dare to speak?
... To be continued
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