- Osun Polytechnic lecturers accuse Adeleke of nepotism
- Osun Government urged lecturers to halt protest, permit investigation to hold
Lecturers and students at the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction at the removal of rector in the institution.
They accused the State Governor, Ademola Adeleke of nepotism following the suspension of the school boss, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo.
WITHIN NIGERIA had earlier reported that the government had on Monday suspended the Rector over allegation of corruption and appointed one Mr Kehinde Alabi in the institution pending the investigation of the allegations against him.
While protesting against the action of the state government at the school gate on Tuesday, the Academic Staff Union of the Polytechnic’s president in the institution, Fatai Afolabi said the appointment of Alabi as acting rector is nepotic, saying he does not qualify to be appointed, especially with a Deputy Rector in place.
According to him; The governor appointed someone who is not qualified as the Acting Rector of the institution. The person that the governor appointed contested for the post of Deputy Rector and lost.
“We have a Deputy Rector on the ground who should replace the Rector if he is removed, that is what the guidelines say, and in the absence of a deputy rector, the most senior Chief Lecturer will be appointed as Acting Rector.
“The person that was appointed is of low ranking among the Chief Lecturers, he is not ranked among the first fifty. The only thing that qualifies him is that he is from Ede. The governor is nepotistic with appointments and dealings in Iree Poly. The governor wants to put Ede indigenes everywhere in the school which is not possible. Is it only Ede that voted for him? Everybody voted for him.
“Dr Odetayo who was removed over alleged corruption, was never made to face any panel or enquiry, he was never issued a query. We are aware that his offence was refusing to make Alabi the Deputy Rector as requested by those in government which is beyond him”.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole said the state government has no vested interest in the school beyond ensuring that peace reigns supreme in the institution.
“The action taken by the government was to forestall crisis and ensure free hearing over the petition written against him accusing the suspended Rector of corruption. The person that was appointed as the Acting Rector is eminently qualified. He will be in charge till government conclude the investigation and release a white paper on the issue”, he said.
A student leader in the school told WITHIN NIGERIA that “ the rector is a honest man, we don’t believe in the allegations, they are weak allegation, the development is just to favour the man acting as rector because he is from the Governor’s home town, Ede”.
WITHIN NIGERIA observed that lecturers and students disrupted academic activities in the school’s early hours on Tuesday, shutting the school gate and suspending ongoing examinations over the rector’s removal.
Meanwhile, the State Government has called for calm over the imbroglio.
The call was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenments, Barrister Kolapo Alimi on Tuesday.
The statement noted that, “the attention of the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has been drawn to the protests by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, of Osun State Polytechnic, OSPOLY Iree over the suspension of the Rector, Dr Tajudeen Adewale Adetayo.
“The Governor who is concerned about the reaction, urges all to remain calm and shun the protest which had led to closing the school gate, thereby disrupting the ongoing examination within the school.
“The Governor assures the ASUP and the students of the institution that the matter will be looked into and necessary measures taken.
“The OSPOLY Governing Board will soon be put in place to take over the matter and investigate the allegation which led to the suspension and take appropriate action as soon as possible.
“I understand the reason for the protest over the suspension of the Rector, Dr Tajudeen Adewale Adetayo. The step taken by the administration is necessary, but I assure you that a full investigation will commence and every misunderstanding will be cleared.
“I recognize the ASUP and I urge them to stop the protest, and allow investigation to hold for the matter to be sorted.”
While urging ASUP not to allow themselves to be used by the opposition, Alimi stressed that it is important to the government and the public for the protest to be stopped and peace to be restored to the school community.