Ekiti Students Kick Against Ogun Indigenes’ Dominance At FUOYE

Students and some youths in Ekiti State have kicked against what they called “the domination of Federal University at Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) by indigenes of Ogun State”.

They condemned the removal of the Registrar, Mr. Daniel Adeyemo, the only principal officer of Ekiti origin, in favour of Mrs. O. Fasakin, who hails from Ogun State, just as the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun.

Acting under the aegis of Ekiti Students and Youth Coalition (ESYC), the protesters accused Soremekun of victimising Ekiti State indigenes.

They urged the Federal Government to remove Soremekun in the interest of “justice, fairness and equity” to save FUOYE from being turned into a “conquered territory of Ogun indigenes”.

They also accused Soremekun of concocting what they called “false, unproven and unfounded allegations of sexual harassment and negligence of duty against Adeyemo,” who was removed to pave the way for Mrs Fasakin.

The protesters listed the Ogun State personnel at FUOYE as Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Fasina; Director of Administration Mr. O. Odusanya; Head of Procurement Mr. Alani Efuntade and Acting Bursar Mrs. R. Akande, from Oyo State but married to Ogun indigene.

Denying complicity in the alleged Ogun dominance, Soremekun said he lacked the power to sack the registrar.

He said such power resided only with the Governing Council.

Soremekun, who responded through the university’s spokesman, Geoffrey Bakji, said he had no blame in the events that led to Adeyemo’s ouster from office.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, ESYC’s Coordinator Sunday Asefon said the management positions at FUOYE were being headed by Ogun indigenes, while the host state was “technically” relegated.

He said: “The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof Saida Mabadeje, hails from Lagos but married to an Ogun person. The VC is from Ogun; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Fasina is from Ogun; the Director of Administration, Mr. O. Odusanya, is from Ogun and the Acting Registrar, Mrs. O. Fasakin, is from Ogun. Also, the Acting Bursar, Mrs R. Akande, is from Oyo but married to an Ogun indigene.’’

“To further prove a clear case of conspiracy against Ekiti indigenes, majority of the principal officers named above are yet to be confirmed as workers of the university as their probation period is yet to be over.

“We, therefore, give the management, the Governing Council and the Federal Ministry of Education a 21-day ultimatum to reverse Adeyemo’s removal, or we will take our protest from Ekiti to Abuja.”