The umbrella socio-cultural organization of Ogbomoso sons and daughters worldwide, Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye, on Thursday debunked a report that the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III was behind the perennial crisis assailing Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
The organization said the allegation was apparently borne out of mischief, fallacies and misinformation, describing it as a gratuitous insult. It alleged that the workers who should be conversant with the facts and address the matter accordingly are the ones propagating fallacies.
Egbe Omo Ogbomoso Parapo Agbaaye, in a statement signed by its National President, Justice Afolabi Adeniran and the General Secretary, Mr. Christopher Bolaji Ige further submitted, “Neither Soun of Ogbomoso nor his subjects are interested in the subject of who owns the institution, what is of paramount interest to us is for the university to regain its lost glory. But what Ogbomoso people are against is for a state to continually default in meeting its obligations with a sinister plot to trigger the destruction of the university in the version of ‘kaka ki ekute maje sese yio fi se awadanu ni’.
“Anyone who is familiar with the situation of LAUTECH will realize that the University is never tied to the apron spring of Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III or under the control of anyone within Ogbomoso for that matter.
“Soun has never attempted to exert any influence on LAUTECH which explains why no indigene of Ogbomoso has served as the Vice Chancellor of the University even though she has many qualified persons. Ogbomoso is content with being a good host to the university. Furthermore, her indigenes have continued to initiate infrastructural developments in the institution. It is wrong to insinuate that Ogbomoso is desperate to own the university. On what basis will the community run it? People should think.
“There has never been a problem with the institution until the issue of non-payment of salaries begins. And it is crystal clear what is responsible for this, the owner states have been making accusations and counter-accusations against each other over fulfillment of financial obligations to the institution.
“ Incumbent governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde during the campaign period repeatedly stated his plan to revamp education in Oyo State including restoring LAUTECH to its former glory and this, his administration has been doing since coming on board. If anyone wants to take over the University for Oyo State it will be the Oyo State Government, it is beyond Ogbomoso’s people authority. As stated, what is of importance to Ogbomoso is the reinventing of the University so that students will not have their time wasted again and lecturers continue to suffer irregular payment of salaries”, the statement concluded.
