University Of Maiduguri 'Whistle Blower' Who Was Suspended Writes Open Letter To The VC

A few weeks back, Ahmad Umar a University of Maiduguri staff with the Bursary Department took to Social Media to call out his bosses on illegal salary deduction.

Weeks after his post, the University management suspended him for posting his grievances which has been termed as 'whistle blowing', online.

Now, Amar has written an Open Letter to the school's Vice Chancellor to address the issue.

Read the letter below...
“I am compelled to write this open letter to you, although in addition to the inner and unconscious thing that force me from within and the ethical and moral duty. I do write this for two reasons;
The first reason is to serve as an advice to you and the second is to awaken your consciousness so as to transparently and honestly manage the affairs of the University, with the fear of God and in good faith. For as things are since the inception of your leadership, arrogance and impunity thrived more than any other thing, This is obvious in your self-centered style of leadership which is dictatorial.
Sir, I wish to bring to your notice that, majority of the staff of the University are living in fear and seriously grumbling, but they chose to keep their mute, out of fear of victimization that could lead to redeployment, suspension from work and eventual dismissal from the university.
The above is true considering my recent suspension from duty through a letter dated Tuesday 11th,July,2017. Signed by the Registrar, of the University of Maiduguri Alh. Tijjani Bukar, Further establishes and corroborates the spate and speed of which the trio of impunity, dictatorship and arrogance characterize your leadership style. As it is no longer news that my feud with the University leadership is as a result of my blunt and famous publication on Facebook title “UNIMAID IN DISARRAY”. As a university, this institution ought not only to have thick skin for positive criticism when aired by others but to appreciate and make amends instead and yearn for more of same. Unfortunately the management of this University chose to intimidate my person threatening me in number of occasions, unknown to them that the more they insist on silencing me, the more I feel courage to silence their urge of impunity.
However, I want to remind you that, this will not change anything and I have not regretted my actions as long as the bit of facts I published remain unchallenged and the allegations leveled against you are neither proved wrong by you nor debunked by those who were used to intimidate, persecute and threaten me on your behalf. This point to the fact that the truth will forever triumph over falsehood.
Meanwhile, I want to challenge the legality of my suspension based on the fact that, what I posted was on social media network, and I can’t remember any law that prohibits the freedom of expression in any form including, social media network or electronic print media. Equally the University where I work, had never issued any internal or external circular prohibiting staff from making posts on social media network, even as I know it is impossible in any democratic society.
Please permit me to also remind you that as at when the former governor of the Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido blew the whistle against the Jonathan led Federal government, whistle blowing was alien, he was
immediately suspended. But as he rightly said: “You can suspend me but you can’t suspend the truth” barely a year or so after the man’s suspension, the truth came hunting Jonathan, and to the surprise of all, Jonathan became the first incumbent president to lose election. It is therefore right to say that as things are, whistle blowing is alien in the University of Maiduguri, hence my suspension is understandable, I therefore say: “You can suspend me but you can’t suspend the truth”
Additionally, I want to inform you that the silence of the intellectuals in the University community and elders of Borno State is not something you should relax and rejoice as an emperor that you think you are, it means you should continue with the impunity, everything will eventually end, but you should await the consequences.
Lastly pardon me for making this letter open, it is because I have no other means of expressing my thoughts, but remember that the truth can be expressed by any one other than me, it is always a matter of time and courage. I hope my submission will bring the desired change.”
AHMAD ABDULRAHMAN UMAR
BURSARY DEPARTMENT,
CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL STORE,
STAFF NO. JP5488