The suspension of the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo by Governor Ademola Adeleke has been greeted with condemnations especially from the academic community.

This is because the reasons for the decision are far from the truth.

The fact is that the rector was suspended because of his failure to buy into the bid of the governor to ensure an Ede indigene, Mr Kehinde Alabi becomes the deputy rector.

Interestingly, it’s the same Alabi that the governor has appointed as the acting rector.

i-News Nigeria reliably confirmed that for quite sometimes, pressures had been mounted on the rector, Dr Odetayo to manipulate the electoral system to favour Mr. Alabi of the department of General Studies.

According to investigations, the Chief of Staff to the governor who is another Ede indigene like his boss, Mr Kazeem Ajileye, has on different occasions told the rector that the generalissimo of Osun State has interest in Mr Alabi being the deputy rector that he (the rector) should ensure the wish becomes a reality.

Mr. Ajileye having noticed the reactions of the rector to the bidding of the governor had threatened him that he was playing with his office if he fails to carry out what he described as the order from the above.

The rector kept on insisting on his point that he could not alter the school’s constitution as the position of deputy rector is an elective one and the only option left for the favourite of the governor was to try and convince the lecturers who would decide on his fate.

He emphasised that for posterity sake, he could not manipulate the electoral process as such would have serious repercussions.
However, the governor’s kinsman came a distant 3rd after the election into the office of the deputy rector was conducted on the 22nd June.

According to the result of the election signed by the returning officer, Dr. O.K. Adepoju, a copy of which i-News Nigeria obtained, Dr Oyeleke Gboyega scored the highest with 51 votes followed by Engr. Awofadeju Ayinde with 19 votes while the governor’s anointed candidate, Mr Alabi got only 9 votes.

Others that participated in the election are Dr Adewoyin Olakunle with 4 votes and Dr Alaje Daniel with 2 votes.

The returning officer, Dr Adepoju declared Dr Oyeleke Gboyega as the deputy rector- elect and was attested to by the agents of the 5 candidates including the one for Mr Alabi, Sanusi, A.M.

Further investigations revealed that the office of the rector on the 13th July communicated the new deputy rector position to the state government.

Worried by what he described as a high level of insubordination exhibited by the rector, the governor ordered his suspension by all means.

According to a source who preferred anonymity, “the rector has no corruption cases or any abuse of office as those allegations as contained in a memo of his suspension were cooked up to nail the man”.

The source explained further that to make real and to avoid any traces, “the letter of the suspension was backdated to 11th of this month whereas the rector reported the election of the new deputy rector to the state government on 13th.”

“How come a letter of suspension that was released on Monday, 24th July and you now backdated it to 11th July if not that there is a hiding agenda?”

The obvious truth is that the rector is being punished for not playing along regarding the interest of the governor whose belief is that Ede sons and daughters must be on top anywhere in the State”.

Another reliable source who spoke under the condition of anonymity queried how someone that majority of lecturers did not have confidence in and failed to be elected as the deputy rector could be the one that the governor will now make the acting rector.

He noted that “it’s a great slap and in fact the governor has dared the people of Osun State”.

In a memo signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr A Jimoh the rector was suspended “sequel to the strong allegations of financial recklessness, corruption, misappropriation of fund, abuse of office among others”.

“Meanwhile, the government has announced the appointment of Mr Kehinde Alabi, as Acting Rector of the institution”.

In a swift reaction, members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree Chapter trooped out to protest the suspension, chanting solidarity songs and barricading the main campus entrance thereby disrupting the ongoing examination in the institution.

The chairman of the union, Dr. Fatai Afolabi, described the suspension as an aberration which is against the constitution of the polytechnic and declared an indefinite suspension of academic activities in the institution.

He insisted that the acting rector appointed to replace Dr Odetayo was unqualified for the post.

Dr Afolabi said: “The governor appointed someone who is not qualified as the acting rector of the institution. The person that the governor appointed contested the post of deputy rector and 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 lecturers, he is not ranked from one to 50. The only thing that qualifies him is that he is from Ede. The governor is nepotistic with the appointment 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?

“The rector who was removed was accused of corruption among others. He was never made to face any panel or enquiry, he was never issued a query.”

Despite that the members of the executive committee of the union including the National Executive Committee of ASUP had a meeting with the Commissioner for Education, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Director of Higher Education, the union stood its ground and rejected the suspension of the rector and the appointment of an acting rector.

In a statement by the Secretary of ASUP, Iree Chapter, Mr. Ayinde Wasiu, “suspension of the Rector and the appointment of Acting Rector were exhaustively discussed. After all deliberations, the union demanded for the reversal of the suspension of the rector and appointment of acting rector while government promised to look into the issues as the withdrawal of all academic activities as well as the suspension of ongoing Daily Part Time, DPT examination subsists.

The statement enjoins members of the union to stay off all academic activities and stop coming to the campus In line with the mandate given by the National ASUP that academic activities and suspension of ongoing DPT examinations should be strictly observed.

“Shutting the main gate of the institution until normalcy is restored is a directive of National ASUP,” it stated.

A source who was at the meeting said it was so unfortunate that the government representatives could not provide any concrete fact to justify all the grievous allegations against the rector as it was obvious that the suspension was politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, notes that the attention of Governor Adeleke has been drawn to the protests and was concerned about the incident.

He assured ASUP and the students of the institution that the matter would be looked into and necessary measures would be taken noting that “the 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.”

An insider noted that the promise of the governor is an empty one as the next plan is to put in place a governing board that will consist of his cronies and will undoubtedly find fault with the rector emphasising that irrespective of different tactics to be employed, the union should be united as only that can win the war on the ground.

A resident of Osun State who saluted the doggedness of the union for standing by the truth noted that if the governor goes scot-free with his plan, more of such impunities are underway as he displays a first class nepotism and wants everything to be for his people only adding that “if it’s possible to relocate the capital of Osun State to Ede, he will do that”.