- ASUP grounds academic activities, accuses gov of nepotism
- Govt call for calm
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Academic activities were on Tuesday grounded by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, following a protest against the suspension of Dr Tajudeen Odetayo as rector.
The protesters had barricaded the entrance of the polytechnic chanting solidarity song in support of Odetayo and prevented the examination from going on.
Governor Ademola Adeleke announced the suspension of Odetayo on Monday for alleged misappropriation of funds and directed Alabi Adeyemi to take over in an acting capacity.
Odetayo was appointed by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola before the end of his administration. But Adeleke suspended him and later confirmed his appointment on 14th March 2023.
However, a letter dated 11th July and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, M. K. Jimoh, and made available to Journalists on Monday 24th July, directed Odetayo to proceed on suspension to allow investigation into the allegation against him.
The ASUP Chairman, Fatai Afolabi, explained that the person appointed as Acting Rector does not qualify because he contested the position of Deputy Rector and lost.
“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 he lost out.
“We have a deputy rector on the ground who should replace him if the rector is removed, that is what the guidelines say, and in the absence of the deputy rector, the most senior chief lecturer will be appointed as Acting Rector.
“The person that was appointed in ranking among the chief Lecturer, he is not ranked from one to 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.”
The state government has, however, called for calm and urged the protesters to shelve their actions.
In a release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the Governor assured the ASUP and the students of the institution that the matter will be looked into and necessary measures taken.
The release added that 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.