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Gov Aregbesola, please arrest UNIOSUN crisis

By Ajike Ariyibi and Adesola Adetokunbo
26 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
SIR: Mr. Governor, we know you mean well for Osun State University and you want a speedy resolution of the crisis currently engulfing the university. We commend your efforts in setting up a Visitation Panel to unravel the source of the crisis and to recommend enduring solutions, which will avert such occurrence in the future.…

SIR: Mr. Governor, we know you mean well for Osun State University and you want a speedy resolution of the crisis currently engulfing the university. We commend your efforts in setting up a Visitation Panel to unravel the source of the crisis and to recommend enduring solutions, which will avert such occurrence in the future.

   However, we wish to bring to your attention the fact that the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin (SAN) has constituted a parallel Ad-Hoc committee of Council to try the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Bursar. This committee is headed by a Professor who is an external member of Council.

  In spite of the fact that you have inaugurated Prof. Adebiyi Daramola Visitation Panel, the Council’s Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel continues to sit in judgment over the same issues you have referred to the Visitation Panel. 

 As we write this open letter, the Council’s Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel had met seven (7) times: February, 2, 9, 11, 13, 16, 19 and 20, 2015 and had spent money to service the meetings. 

  On February 24, 2015, the closing date for submission of Memoranda to the Visitation, the Pro-Chancellor submitted the Council’s Memorandum. 

  Mr. Governor, Sir, in spite of the existence of the Visitation Panel, the Chairman of Council held another meeting of Council on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. However, the most shocking aspect of the unfolding development is Council’s Ad-Hoc Investigation Panel’s fresh request for sitting allowance for another three days, which translates to a little above N1.1 million. In fact, the Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel has scheduled three meetings for Thursday, February 26, Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, 2015. 

  It is curious that the Pro-Chancellor is running a parallel committee to the Prof. Daramola-led Visitation Panel which you set up and duly inaugurated. This does not augur well for the integrity of the Visitation Panel. The ideal thing is for the Governing Council (and its Statutory/Ad-Hoc committees) to submit its authority to the Visitation Panel. 

  It appears that the Governing Council and its Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel is behaving as if it is above the law and the Visitation Panel.

  As a quintessential democrat, a financial engineer, a prudent manager of resources and unbiased adjudicator, please arrest this lawlessness currently being perpetrated by the Governing Council and its Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel. 

• Ajike Ariyibi and Adesola Adetokunbo,

Osun State

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