That day in February, 1965, he was saved by grace or maybe his name worked for him. Professor Saburi Oladeni Biobaku had just been appointed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos to take over from Prof. Eni Njoku, the first ever VC of UNILAG.

But the staff and students would not hear of it. They favoured Njoku who was from the Eastern region. This was at a time of ethnic tens!on. Those who supported Njoku’s reappointment after his initial three years in office, rejected what they saw as political and ethnic manipulations. They (most of them were from the Western region) loved Njoku and his removal was rejected.

The government of Tafawa Balewa decided to mediate and ended up appointing Biobaku, a Yoruba scholar. Then all hell was let loose. A massive demonstration greeted the new appointment.

In the midst of the chaøs, a student named Kayode Adams, who strongly supported Njoku, knifed Professor Biobaku on the university campus. The VC was seriously injüred and rushed to the hospital. He survived the ãttack while Kayode Adams was arrested, tried, and conv!cted for the stabb!ng.

Reports indicate that he was sentenced to dæth and later exēcüted for the attempted mûrdēr. Other reports say he was taken for psychiatric evaluation but drowned mysteriously at the beach. The incident deepened the divisions in the university at that period.

Credit: Ethnic African Stories

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