By Lekan Akinosho
Plagiarism is a serious offence and sin whether in the academia, journalism, speech or writing. If you make use of another writer’s thoughts, word or ideas, do acknowledge them. The failure to do that is a great disrespect, sin and stealing of ideas on what you do not own. This common practice is very destructive one in the empowerment of knowledge and vexatious when those who are supposed to uphold this ideal are aware of the dire consequence. This unethical academic fraud has been noticeable with lazy lecturers seeking glory for works that are not theirs and they parade themselves as Professors.
A lecturer or student must be able to cite both primary and secondary sources in their works for what they say and do analyze it critically. The failure is to compromise what you write and thanks to turnitin.com, an academic technique to search for originality and plagiarism. When you fail in your fecundity or capacity to produce intellectual fruitfulness, you are not worthy to be part of the advancement of knowledge. When the renowned University of Ibadan and the first in Nigeria, my alma mata – and supposed bastion of excellence with the ethics of – Recte Sapere Fons – (Righteousness Success and Knowledge or Character and Learning) starts promoting mediocrity in scholarly research then, it will produce unworthy graduates cum lecturers.
The University of Ibadan has passed through different phases of development since its inception in 1948. UI as often called, which once stood as the pride of Nigeria, has become a scavenge, huge garbage of indecency, immoral and lack of academic excellence under some criminally minded Vice-Chancellors – and worse under the current VC, the so-called Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, who is the 12th Vice Chancellor. He has made that great institution locally irrelevant not to talk of collaborating or engaging with well-placed international institutions. The fruitless journey he made to Canada in 2016 has yielded zero sum and thanks- I was not part of the rabble rousers, jamborees and charade seeking favour – as his coming was totally preposterous with no program(s) and a waste of money from the institution.
As a vacuous VC, he has not only debased the famous Premier University, but turned it to a virulent virus of corruption and his justification lies in casuistry or dishonest of general principles – deceptive of morality. Unibadan is in a total decrepit condition than he met it and his flippant actions must come to an end.
Therefore, the sacking of my brother, Dr. Doyin Odebowale, well known as High Priest, for bringing this malpractice into the attention of the academic community is well commendable and I doff my hat for his courage and speaking loud and clear compared to the lily livered that are just tagalong. Thanks, the case is in court with formidable lawyers and more volunteering out to render their service at no cost for this enviable personality.
When our Lord created Doyin, he did us good for his superlative expression and epithet and I will defend his goodness and uprightness. I am not puzzled or stunned by his sack from the architects of evils as he has been there before – he will always triumph and for those who are trying to play chess with him will soon be shamed in their unholy acts. As the French aphorism goes, it is futile to place small and great things on the same pedestal and not expect disappointment (Il est vain de placer de petites et de grandes choses sur le même piédestal et ne pas attendre déception).
It is apposite to state that I have known Doyin for many years as a formidable lecturer, lawyer, uncompromising individual – and I will always fight his cause especially for his uprightness, firmness, trustworthiness and the ability to more than defend/champion integrity whether you are a friend or adversary. When you go after my fraternal brother, it is a fight for people like me. UI is not an individual asset but a national asset to uphold academic integrity and- must be reminded that those of us who have passed this Premier University are stakeholders in the quest for it to remain relevant in the quest for knowledge.
Let the belligerent and thieving Unibadan Professors engaged in academic fraud under the leadership of Prof.Olayinkan, be reminded that we shall make them discomfit as it now a battle line and let them check our history in UI and the alumni association that we served with credibility as history will always be our side. Prof. Olayinka and his collaborators are just Homunculus (little person) and cannot engage us in their casuistry or dishonest of general principles/deceptive of morality when it comes to justification — as history has never alluded us. His haughtiness is lined with intellectual charlatanism, chicanery or subterfuge coupled with supercilious character and we shall see how this will play out.
We the stakeholders shall be informing Canadian and American Universities that Professor Olayinka is aiding and abetting lecturers involved in plagiarism under his leadership and sacking those speaking against this despicable and un-academic act. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he conquers that fear.
Lekan Akinosho, Political Historian, Human Rights, Civil Society and Democratization Specialist, wrote from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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