Community demands return of College of Health Sciences

A socio-cultural organisation, Ikenne Peoples Forum (IPF) has faulted the relocation of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) College of Health Sciences from the community and appealed to governor Ibikunle Amosun and management of the institution to reverse the decision.

Addressing reporters on the development, chairman of the forum, Chief Adeleke Adesina said relocating the college, named after the late sage, chief Obafemi Awolowo from the deceased hometown to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu was a disservice not only to the memory of the erudite politician but the entire people of the community who have contributed in both cash and kind to support the university.

Specifically, Adeleke lamented that the relocation of the college to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu has affected the socio-economic development of the town.

The chairman accused the governor and the authorities of OOU of conspiring to ridicule the memory of the late sage by moving the college to Sagamu, without consideration to the patriotic efforts of the deceased Awolowo and his people.

He said, “By relocating the university, the state government, alongside the university management has chosen to reward commitment with ingratitude, thus discouraging others who may want to offer a similar assistance to the university. This is particularly sad in an era when governments at all levels are finding it increasingly difficult to meet up with their socio-economic responsibilities.

“Apart from donating 224.9 hectares of land for the initial takeoff of the university, chief Awolowo and other prominent indigenes of Ikenne made contributions based on a special request by the pioneer vice-chancellor Prof. Olubi Sodipo in a letter addressed to the Ikenne Development Association (IDA) on May16, 1983.

They wondered what would become of the huge investment in terms of facilities donated individually and collectively for the smooth operations of the College.

The community alleged that several letters to the governor and OOU management on the relocation were not responded to.

While demanding the immediate return of the college to the town, Adeleke warned that the community may be left with no option than to institute a legal action if the government fails to accede to their demands.

He said, “About this time in 2016, the rumor got to us that efforts were being made once again to stab us in the back, by moving the campus away the second time. We quickly wrote the governor OOU VC demanding an explanation. As if to affirm out fear, no response from the two personalities mentioned was received.

“We were therefore shocked to discover in March this year, that all the departments at the Ikenne campus have moved to Sagamu, except for Anatomy which peculiar circumstance cannot allow them to move for now.