Sue for calm
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Stakeholders in the education sector in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, on Friday, declared that the crisis generated by suspension of the rector of the institution was needless and an attempt to politicise the education sector.
The stakeholders, particularly lecturers in the institution were of the view that there was no basis for the ongoing controversy over the suspension of the rector and the appointment of a new one, considering that the appointment was at the discretion of the visitor to the institution, which is the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
According to our investigations, cases of removal of rectors of the institution had in the past, been done at the discretion of a sitting governor and that politics should not be brought into the development now.
It was learnt that, “during the tenure of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, rectors were appointed that did not suit the likeness of some parts of the state; but the appointments stayed” .
The stakeholders said, ” As a matter of fact, persons from Ede who qualified had been denied in the past. Heaven did not fall. Why this problem now?”
Berating the institution”s unions over their present actions on the crisis rocking the institution, the stakeholders alleged that during the periods of denials of Ede indigenes, the union did not act.
“ We challenge them to come out and explain what they did. One of the qualified Ede indigenes, Dr. Waheed Oyeleke, died eventually in the process. The ASUP Exco should be careful,” the group warned.
Already, Osun State Government has waded into the matter, through a release by its Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, urging, ” all to remain calm and shun the protest which had led to closing the school gate, thereby disrupting the ongoing examinations within the school.
“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 examinations within the school,” he said.
Oluomo Alimi added that the governor had assured the ASUP and the students of the institution that the matter would be looked into and necessary measures would be taken.
The statememt added that OSPOLY’s Governing Board would 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.
