Ondo varsity denies rift among management, staff, governing council member

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

Authorities of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Ondo in Ondo State have dispelled rumours making the rounds that the university is embroiled in crisis, saying that there is absolute peace in the university.

The university also exonerated some of its staff members and a member of the governing council from causing crisis within the university as reported by a section of the media, declaring that there was no crisis among management, staff and members of the governing council.

In a statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Isaac Oluyi, the authorities of the university said some agents of destabilization were behind the rumoured crisis in the university.

Oluyi said “some agents of destabilization have been feeding fat on fabrications about the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. In the last two weeks, the media space has been inundated with all sorts of news about the University. This is not who we are. The University is not in crisis. It is an institution that keeps improving in all areas of teaching, research and community service with focus on being the first and the best in health professions education.”

Oluyi states that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi and his management team are not in any way connected with the news suggesting crisis in the university.

He dissociated the university’s management from sponsoring any news on any news platform which alleged some members of staff of the university including Professor Loto, Professor Odimayo, Mr Oladipupo and a governing council member Barrister Kukoyi are planning to disrupt the institution.

Oluyi noted that the group that claimed to have authored the news; Concerned Stakeholders Forum is not known to the university and cannot speak or make any case on behalf of the institution.

His words “when there is conflict among members of staff, there are internal mechanisms in place to resolve the issues. The University is for Ondo State and not for a section of the state. We therefore condemn any attempt to create division and disaffection among the peace-loving people of Ondo State, using UNIMED.

“If some people have an axe to grind with anyone, we advise they do it with decency and decorum, not through character assassination and mudslinging by hiding under faceless groups or associations.

“The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo hereby dissociates itself from the said publication or any publication by any individual or groups maligning the personalities of members of staff and Governing Council members of the institution.

“We remain committed to excellence in all our activities and we will never stoop to the level of disparaging the character of anyone, let alone dragging the names of people associated with the university in the mud,” he added.