Don’t Turn Federal University Oye Ekiti Into Campaign Ground, Ekiti Students Warn State Politicians

The Coalition for the Advancement of Ekiti State (COAED) and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti Chapter of the Ekiti Student Union have called on politicians in the state not to drag the institution into what is likely going to be a frenetic political year in the state involving the state governorship election.

The groups jointly made the call in Ado Ekiti at the weekend in response to what they called ‘politicisation of academic activities at FUOYE.’

“FUOYE is one of a few federal institutions in Ekiti State and it behoves on all of us to join hands with its managers to realize their vision of turning this school into a world-class institution,’’ Gbolade Oguntomole, Executive Secretary of COAED said.

“It is disheartening that politicians from Ekiti, rather than look for ways to assist FUOYE to grow fast, have been more interested in using elements in the school to score falsely procured cheap points.”

The groups also said they were moved to intervene following a recent media report that the management of FUOYE has been operating with an anti-Ekiti agenda – and that the school’s authorities have been replacing Ekiti workers with others from Ogun State, said to be the home state of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Soremekun.

One group called the Ekiti Student Union and some Youth Coalition (ESYC) had issued a release kicking against a reported removal of the Registrar, Mr. Daniel Adeyemo. But the COAED said this was false.

“Our investigation revealed that Mr. Daniel Adeyemo, has not been removed from office as claimed in the said newspaper report,’’ Oguntomole said. ‘’Mr. Adeyemo is on his Accumulated Annual Leave from the University; as he had not gone on his annual leave since 2011. We also verified that Mr. Adeyemo continues to enjoy all the entitlements of the office of a Registrar till date, including his salary, official car with a driver and others.’’

“We learnt that Mr. Adeyemo had, indeed, dragged the University Management and Council before an Industrial Court of Justice in Akure, in Suit No. NICN/AK/29/2017. Mr. Daniel Abiodun Adeyemo and the Federal University, Oye Ekiti & Anor and the matter are pending before Justice A. A. Adewemimo. Therefore, it is not only subjudice but contemptuous of Mr. Sunday Asefon and the ESYC to start passing judgement on a matter pending before the court of law.’’

The president of the Ekiti Student Union in FUOYE, Akomolafe A.F. said his members join the COAD dissociate themselves from the allegation, ‘’which is not only false, unreasonable but scandalous.”

To put the records straight, we are certain that while the Vice-Chancellor is from Ogun State; the Librarian, Dr. Gboyega Adio is from Oyo State. The Ag. Bursar and her husband are from Oyo/ Osun State and the Director of Administration, Mr. O. Odusanya is from Lagos State and not Ogun State as alleged. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor is from Ogun State but is married to an Ekiti woman. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor was overwhelmingly voted for by a Senate whose membership is largely drawn from Ekiti.

‘’It is also instructive to know that we have seven Faculties in the University namely: Faculty of Agriculture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Social Science, Science, Management Sciences and the Postgraduate School. Five of these faculties are headed by Deans who are indigenes of Ekiti State. They are: Prof Rasaki Ojo Bakare, Prof. Alabadan, Prof. Adebitan, Prof. Omolayo and  Prof. Oladele. It is also a fact that 58 percent of the workforce, (senior staff alone) hail from Ekiti State. Therefore, the issue of marginalization of Ekiti indigenes as stated by these shadowy groups does not arise.”

“We believe that this inaccurate information is the handiwork of a Fifth Columnist and enemy of the advancement of the young Institution. The information supplied by Mr. Asefon and his group shows that they have been fed a tissue of lies by their Principal. Indeed, we see the hand of a perfidious mind in this publication and it is working against the collective interest of Ekiti people and the nation at large.”

“Our hope lies in the fact that, Ekiti indigenes are more enlightened to appreciate the rule of law and  the process of appointments in federal institutions.’’