Ex-Oyo Attorney General Raises Concern Over LAUTECH Debacle, Seeks Implementation
Immediate past commissioner for justice and attorney general of Oyo State, Barr. Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, has raised concern about the lingering crises, the institution for the past 5 years.
Mouthpiece NG recalls that Attorney Mutalubi played a key role in resolving the suit filed by the state of Osun at the Supreme Court in 2012 to challenge the take-over or LAUTECH by the government or former Governor Akala.
Mutalubi who said he’s not happy with the current situation of the institution noted that LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states and anybody promising you a sole ownership unilaterally without the competition of the other state is either playing politics or is unfettered and a poor administrator .
He made this statement in a Whatsapp conversation while contributing his own quota on the school discourse.
“Good morning all. I followed and read all the submissions of our noble members on LAUTECH debacle.
“Most times when arguments are on here, I decided not to comment on some issues because my joining the conversation may entail divulging some privileged information at my disposal.
“And at the same time, I am always amused and also bemused about sincere comments or some of our members which I know were made due to dearth kowledge of knowledge on the topic or lack of how govt operational structure works and some actually for pure political mischief.
Ojo said the recommendations of the Chief Wole Olanipekun visitation panel report set up by the two owner states are enough to solve the ownership issue.
The statement reads full in part:
“1. Take it or leave it, LAUTECH is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states and anybody promising you a sole ownership unilaterally without the concurrence of the other state is either playing politics or is unfettered and a poor administrator.
“We realised this so much when we came into government in 2011, hence our resolution to settle the ill-fated supreme court matter with Osun State amicably.
Please take it to the bank, that was the most pragmatic step any responsible government could do at that time to save LAUTECH
“2. Truth be told, Osun state has not been very fair at all in her dealings with Oyo State over LAUTECH.
What most commentators on LAUTECH don’t know that is that when Osun state was in severe financial crisis and especially at the time Ogbeni Raif Aregbesola was campaigning for the second term, Oyo State government was covering up for Osun so that PDP won’t make a political capital out of the LAUTECH issue by paying the subventions for the Univeristy and the Teaching Hospital at Osogbo together, but Osun State failed to reciprocate the kind gestures after the election.
“Being a loyal party man and elderly statesman, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi resolved that Oyo State should not make it a press issue in order not embarrass our sister state.
My humble self and my very good brother, Zacch Adelabu took up the matter with the Governor but we couldn’t make any headway.
“3. The Ogbomosos should please do away with the erroneous assumption that LAUTECH is their birthright and sole property as that fallacy was the origin of the LAUTECH crisis which has now fostered to what it I’d today.
LAUTECH belongs to Oyo and Osun states and I don’t see any reason why we can’t retain LAUTECH as such if all the South-west states can jointly own Oodua Group.
“4. The solutions to LAUTECH problems are succintly contained in the erudite and dynamic Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN led visitation panel’s document set up by the two visitors to the university.
All responsible citizens who sincerely love Gov . Oyetola and Engineer Seyi Makinde should advise them to just implement the recommendations of that great panel and not to be crying wolves where there is none.
“5. LAUTECH academic and non- academic staff are too partisan for my liking. They seem to have placed greater emphasis on politics to the detriment of their core callings. This is not healthy at all.
“6. Finally, I wish both Gov. Oyetola and Engineer Seyi Makinde great success and God’s guidance as they steer the affairs of their respective states.
I pray in particular that Engineer Seyi Makinde should be able to achieve at least 50 per cent of the spectacular achievements of the father of the modern Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi during the latter’s first term in office.
Should Engineer Seyi Makinde achieve 50 per cent of that record, I can assure him of a second term in office.
Long live Think Oyo, Long live Oyo State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Ire O