Re: Strong Clemency Appeal for the Great ABU Zaria III By Prof. M. K. Othman
Re: Strong Clemency Appeal for the Great ABU Zaria III
By
Prof. M. K. Othman
The comments on the clemency appeal for ABU Zaria have been overwhelming. ABU Alumni, friends, well-wishers, and lovers of university education have spoken with one message: the FGN should relieve ABU Zaria of the obligation to pay compensation to its sacked workers in 1996, thirty years ago. Over the past ten years, ABU Zaria has suffered enough from being dragged from one court to another, expending its meager financial resources, time, and energy. It is time for the university to address other developmental challenges that constrain academic activities such as teaching, research, and innovation. Still, I am sharing a few more comments, driven by my inordinate desire for the message to reach the ears of the university visitor, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. May the right things be done at the right time, amen. Happy reading.
Dear Prof. Othman, your piece on the above subject is a very well-written article. Maybe it’s because the paper is directly related to my profession, but I found it very interesting, and I must confess that you have done well, Sir, in addressing the concerns of the judgment creditors as well as the judgment debtors. Moreover, you provided the best possible solution on how to address the issue, as captured in the first and second segments of your writeup.
I must once again confess that you have done justice to each and every party involved in this case, and I hope the advice you offered will be considered with all sense of objectivity and sincerity for the good and stability of our great institution, the Almighty ABU.
Finally, I pray that this write-up reaches the Minister of Education, either directly or indirectly through his P.A., as well as other top-ranking government officials, to take appropriate action on the issue. May God grant them the wisdom to do the needful, amen. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless you and be your protector and guide in all your affairs, amen.
Barrister Mubarak Yakasai
When I was rounding off my first degree, I was also on the verge of beginning a lifelong journey with my first love from Zee Town, but fate had other plans, and the opportunity slipped away. Last week, while writing about ABU and the court verdict on some military-related issues, Prof Othman mentioned ABU’s romantic atmosphere. That observation was absolutely true.
I loved ABU then, and I still love it now as I round off my third degree there, having previously completed my first and second degrees at the same great institution. ABU has remained a place of learning, memories, friendships, and cherished moments throughout my academic journey.
Dr UAM Batagarawa
Salam, Prof. Sir. Thank you for this exemplary public intervention. You’ve done what great university scholars do best: bring rigor, context, and humanity to a pressing national issue. You’ve affirmed the rights and suffering of the 110 dismissed staff while defending ABU’s continuity; you’ve humanized both sides; you’ve demystified a 30-year legal battle so ordinary Nigerians can grasp why this judgment matters to every student, parent, and alumnus; and your portrayal of ABU as Nigeria’s melting pot and an icon of nation-building reminds us why some institutions are too strategic to fail.
This is the kind of commentary that can shift public discourse from outrage to solution-seeking. We look forward to next week’s conclusion, especially your thoughts on “the best way forward.” ABU is fortunate to have voices like yours defending its soul while upholding the rule of law. Well done, Prof. Sir, on this truly thoughtful and timely clemency appeal.
Prof Othman, once again, I commend you for the compelling Part II article on the topic “Strong Clemency Appeal for the Great ABU Zaria II,” which matches the weight and urgency of Part I. This is a demonstration of complete statesmanship in print for the following reasons:
1. Your present discussion moves from diagnosis to prescription, where Part I laid out the dilemma, Part II proposes a path.
2. While you’ve accepted the court’s judgment as final – University, as a product of law, must respect law and order – you then shift the debate to implementation without destruction. That’s wisdom, not defiance.
3. You’ve taken a 30-year legal-financial knot and untangled it with history, law, proverbs, and policy sense.
4. Your affection for ABU is evident, but it’s not blind loyalty. It’s a defense of what ABU means to Nigeria, the melting pot of 774 LGAs.
5. Your constructive tone – no bitterness, no blame-shifting. Just a dignified plea for the FGN to own its history and fund its future.
Thank you, Prof., for standing in the gap for the “Great ABU.” This is patriotism expressed through pen and principle. May this piece reach the listening ears of Mr. President, and may ABU’s “supersonic academic progress” continue unbroken. Ameen.
Prof Abdulhameed U. Yusuf
Good evening, Prof. Hope the authorities, on whose behalf General Mamman Kontagora acted under the military decree that granted him power, act now to rescue the great ABU from systemic collapse. Thank you, Sir, for raising this and waking us from our slumber. Let the Alumni Association develop a strategy to form a pressure group that will follow up and lobby for the university within the corridors of power.
Prof Sani Isiaku
Prof. Othman, another compelling read. You’ve once again reminded us that the best public commentary does more than assign blame—it broadens perspective. The enduring lesson is that institutional decisions have long memories, and today’s actions can shape tomorrow’s realities. I hope this important conversation inspires a solution that upholds justice while preserving the legacy of the great ABU. Thank you for consistently offering your readers something worth reflecting on.
Prof Umar Mohammed
