Waziri Isa Adam, the Publisher and Group Editor-in-Chief of campus magazine has bagged three queries from the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Kabiru Bala.
The embattled publisher revealed that he was issued three queries to him a few months before the expiration of his five-year tenure.
Adam, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, said his “findings revealed that hawks around the Vice-Chancellor and major beneficiaries of his administration, who are obsessed with my consistent watchdog role in the university, are behind this new wave of hostility”.
“They have long been insisting that the Vice-Chancellor silence me, the publisher, an action they believe will be welcomed and celebrated by his admirers and foot soldiers as one of his legacies.”
“To achieve this, I, the publisher, who is also a lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of the university, was issued three queries on the same day, within one minute, to explain within 48 hours why disciplinary action should not be taken against me for writing stories that allegedly portray the university in a bad light.”
The queries, signed by the Institution’s Deputy Registrar, Human Resources Administration, Dalhatu Salihu, and made available to journalists, cited reports with captions such as “Mysterious Fire Engulfs ABU Cash Office”, “Handover Protocol…”, and “Yayale’s Appointment As ABU Pro- Chancellor: VC’s Camp Celebrate Appointment, Hopes to have Chair on its Side”.
The queries claimed that the reports were malicious, outrageous, false, and culpable of inciting members of the university against itself
Meanwhile, in his reply to the queries, Mallam Adam, in a letter dated June 7, 2024, appreciated the attention to the matter and his willingness to explain.
However, he requested clarifications on which specific paragraphs in the articles were deemed malicious, stating that “without this information, it was challenging to provide a comprehensive response.”
He further urged “the university to specify the offending sections and explain how they allegedly incite violence or harm against the university”.
Once clarified, he promised to explain his reasoning, provide evidence to support his reporting and address any concerns they may have.
