By Ajike Ariyibi and Adesola Adetokunbo.
Mr. Governor, Sir, 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 would 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) is currently undermining the work of the Visitation Panel. He has constituted a parallel Ad-Hoc committee of Council to try the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Bursar. This committee is headed by Prof. Obafemi Ajibola, an external member of Council.
In spite of the fact that you have inaugurated the Prof. Adebiyi Daramola Visitation Panel, the Council’s Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel continues to sit in judgement over the same issues you have referred to the Visitation Panel. The curious aspect of the Council’s Ad-Hoc Panel is that it has continued to spend hard-earned money on Sitting Allowance and other Allowances.
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 over N3.3 million Naira 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 has scheduled another meeting of Council for Wednesday, 25th February, 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, translates to a little above N1.1 million Naira only. In fact, the Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel has scheduled three meetings for Thursday, 26th February, Thursday, 5th March and Friday, 6th March, 2015.
It is curious and baffles all imagination 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. Why, why and why should an Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel, which had spent N3.3 million on a 7-day meeting, make additional financial request for sitting allowance of a little above N1.1 million only to be spent for additional three days when the Visitation Panel is currently addressing the same issues.
As a quintessential democrat, a financial engineer, a prudent manager of resources and unbiased adjudicator, please arrest this lawlessness and philandering currently being perpetrated by the Governing Council and its Ad-Hoc Investigative Panel.
