Concerned group under the aegis of Osun indigene in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, have warned the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunnni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, against interfering in the institution’s crisis.
At a peaceful rally in Osogbo, on Monday, the group carried placards of various inscriptions such as “On Joint Ownership We Stand”, “You can not Take LAUTECH By Force”, “7 Faculties in Ogbomoso, 1 Faculty in Osun, It’s Not Fair”, “Soun Palace Not the Seat of LAUTECH Administration”, “LAUTECH is Not Ogbomoso Property”, among others.
Addressing journalists at the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, shorlty after the rally, the spokesperson of the group, Mrs Fapohunda Olajumoke, alleged that economic importance of LAUTECH is being monopolized by Ogbomoso. She called on the two owner states, Oyo and Osun governments, to settle their differences and pay workers’ salaries.
She further enjoined the two Governors, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Mr Seyi Makinde, to do everything within their reach to ensure fairness, justice and equity in the distribution of the institution assets, to ensure effective management of the institution and also put an end to the lingering crises.
“Despite all intimidation from Ogbomoso indigenes, there is no occasion that indigenes of Osun who are LAUTECH staff responded or retaliated. Osun and Oyo Governments should prevail on the Soun of Ogbomoso to stop interfering in the daily administration of LAUTECH.
“Inequity in the distributions of faculties, programmes and projects of the university had been a major challenge and the need to address such issues was pertinent.
“The University has seven Faculties with only one which is the Faculty of Clinical Science wholly situated in Osun. Staff ratio is extensively skewed to Oyo, despite that Osun pay salaries.
“We should know that since 2013, Oyo government had stopped paying salaries of the Teaching Hospital in Osun which is only the hospital recognised by the Edict of the University.
“Economic importance of the institution is monopolised by Ogbomoso which is worrisome.
Another staff of the University, Dr Lekan Adebayo, maintained that the two owner states must revisit and respect the 2010 Report by the visitation team to LAUTECH, for peace to reign.
