FUNAAB: VC consults over resignation plan as SSANU blasts ASUU

DESPITE the vote of confidence passed on him by fellow lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), Prof. Olusola Oyewole, may resign his appointment any moment from now.

The procrastination on when to take the decision came at the time the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has summoned Oyewole, who is the Founder and General Overseer of Divine Height Bible Church, Abeokuta, to Abuja.

Similarly, the development came at the time the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) in the university kicked against the vote of confidence passed on Oyewole by the Senate of the university.

Oyewole, left for Abuja on Thursday to hold talks with the Minister who was said to have been peeved with the vote of confidence passed on the Vice-Chancellor coupled with the need to decide on the allegation of corruption leveled against him alongside the former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and erstwhile Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi.

“He was also summoned to come and explain the meaning of ‘vote of confidence’ by Senate, an internal organ of university that did not appoint him into office,” a source within the university said.

He added: “Only the Governing Council could have done that if the council itself was not enmeshed in the alleged looting.  But all of the 14 council members of Senate have their hands dipped in the till.

“But despite all these, the guy is unashamed.  But it not impossible he’s bringing back his removal letter from Abuja.”

The source also said that the Governing Council may be dissolved any moment from now, possibly next week and that this development informed the urgent resignation of Ogunlewe, who was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan administration, from being disgraced from office.

Another source close to the embattled Vice-Chancellor, who is facing corruption allegation before an Ogun State High Court on 18-count charges, said that Oyewole has begun consultation on his next line of action.

“He’s thinking of resigning in line with norm, but he’s yet to take final decision on that because some of his colleagues in the university are pushing him to stay on and damn the consequence,” the Professor, who preferred anonymity, said.

He added: “On his own, he will quit any moment from now before he will be removed by the government, probably through Education Ministry because with the resignation of Senator Ogunlewe, the council is in limbo now.

“But his fellow lecturers, who are in cohort with him in the university, are urging him not to resign; that’s why he’s behaving as if nothing happened when you see him on campus going round on inspection after his return from ‘temporary jail’.

“They are just pushing him to disgrace, because after his release he was ushered into the university like a ‘victorious person’ with security car of the university leading the way blaring siren.”

“Even his supporters were singing ‘Oyewole ma ba sere lo, ise re ntewa lorun’ (Oyewole, continue with your work, we are satisfied).  Quite shameful to see such in a citadel of learning where we should lead by example,” the professor angrily said, adding: “And unfortunately, the man is not only a Christian but a Founder and General Overseer of a church.  It’s really disgraceful and embarrassing.”

He, however, expressed hope that Oyewole would take a rational and ‘honourable’ decision particularly since he would be meeting with the Minister, at a time many vice-chancellors went to Abuja for an international conference.

Meanwhile, SSANU has lashed out at the Senate for passing vote of confidence on Oyewole, describing the action as “insanity.”

The Chairman of SSANU, Rotimi Fasuwon, told GatewayMail that the lecturers had displayed their level of partisanship and insincerity on the situation at the university, particularly since the allegation of corruption leveled against the three senior officials.

Fasuwon said: “While it also re-affirmed its resolve to uphold the laws of the university and ensure discipline, the Senate claims to uphold the laws, but jettisoned the rule that says that any officer undergoing criminal charge must be interdicted.”

“This is the position of the law both in the public service and CAP.F22 of the university,” the SSANU chairman said, adding: “The Academic staff have shown to the world how myopic they are and their sense of insincerity.”

He stressed: “Whether who becomes the VC is an insider or not isn’t the problem of SSANU, but going by the Senate decision to cover up VC’s impunity, one may not have a choice than to wish that a neutral Professor with integrity from another university becomes the VC to put a stop to all these insanity.”

It would be recalled that in a news release by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Mrs. Emi’ Alawode, on Wednesday, the FUNAAB Senate said that despite the allegation of corruption against Oyewole, they still believed in his leadership of the university to continue in office, while the process for the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor had commence in accordance with the law.

“The Senate, therefore, re-affirmed its confidence in the ability of the Vice-Chancellor to provide academic and administrative leadership during the remaining part of his tenure, adding that the process for the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor for the University, has begun in accordance with the law,” the university said in the release.

It explained that the Registrar and Secretary to Senate, Mr. Mathew Ayoola, said that the Senate agreed that the allegations levelled against Oyewole, Ogunlewe and Ilesanmi are before the court, hence it would reserve comments on them.

According to the release, the Senate noted that all accused persons were presumed innocent, until proven otherwise by the court, and in view of this, the Senate therefore, re-affirmed its confidence in the ability of the out-going Vice-Chancellor to provide academic and administrative leadership during the remaining part of his tenure.

“Senate expressed deep concern over the emerging trend in Nigerian universities, where some persons or group of persons in the guise of unionism, acting alone or in concert with internal and external influences, seek to control the levers of administration and undermine the peace and harmony in the system, while it also re-affirmed its resolve to uphold the laws of the University and ensure discipline
and good governance at all times,” the release added.