IN SWEET MEMORIES OF A BELOVED FATHER, TWO YEARS AFTER
Every 1st of August is a reminder of the existence and fulfilled living of an iconic man, Pa Timothy Adebayo Ajide Jenyo, aged 95 before he rested with his creator, on 1st of August, 2021.
A rare example of a true father, great counselor, intimate friend and lover of his town, environment and humanity in general, Pa Ajide Jenyo, though dead, his legacies of integrity, loyalty and selflessness live on in our minds.
My father and friend like no other, you stood your ground, on your full tentacles, through thick and thin in this journey of destiny, Pa Ajide Jenyo, so painful it is that you are no more, at this time, that the fruits of your vision are coming to manifestation, to the glory of God.
I would have been the happiest person on earth today if becoming an Honourable Commissioner in your dear Osun State is before your very eyes, but you have fought a good fight of faith, you have finished your race and you have been crowned the crown of glory, HALLELUYAH!
Our consolation is that you lived an enviable, remarkable and indelible life while alive, and your good deeds are still speaking, even after you, my Daddy.
Rest on my greatest confidant, till the eternity, when we all shall meet again, to part no more.
Sun ‘re ooo Baami, Ajide omo olomu aperan!!!
Signed: Rev. ‘Bunmi Jenyo, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Osun State. 01/08/2023
Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in the past few days, has been contending with challenges over developments in the management of the state Polytechnic in Iree. STEPHEN ADEGBOYEGA examines some of the issues.
Many residents of Osun State woke up to find the brouhaha caused by some stakeholders of the Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, last Tuesday morning. It was another breach of public peace over what seems a non-issue. To start with, the appointment and removal of a Rector of an institution is at the behest of the Visitor to the institution; after such appointment, questions might then be raised, if there are any at all.
Those kicking against the appointment of a Chief Lecturer, Mr. Kehinde Alabi, as the Acting Rector of the institution and those saying nothing is wrong with the suspension of Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo to pave the way for Alabi have been canvassing their points already. We just need to make a sense of the development, look at the antecedents as well as the merit of arguments from both divides and allow peace to reign in our dear Osun State. Some people believe that Odetayo was booted out of office the way he was unjustifiedly appointed as Rector.
In looking at the matter at hand, one should begin with the submissions of Mr. Ismail Omopidan, the Chief Press Secretary to the immediate-past governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who spoke the mind if his boss in a piece entitled; “The Sense And Nonsense of Governor Adeleke’s action,” over the matter. He said inter alia, in a write-up, that: “Under the immediate-past administration, some state actors and influential persons in the state attempted to blackmail former Governor Adegoboyga Oyetola into appointing not just his kinsman, but also someone more like his brother as the vice chancellor of the Osun State University, when the position became vacant. “To drive home their argument, those who wanted the action carried out reminded the former governor of another ex-governor from a neighbouring state, Ondo State, who appointed his brother as the vice chancellor of the state university. Mr. Oyetola, who refused to succumb to the wish of the influential persons, simply asked his brother to go and compete like every other candidate for the Vice Chancellorship position. “In the end, a highly cerebral candidate from a local government other than that of the former governor emerged the vice chancellor. I pray the nonsense called ‘Edenisation’ of political patronage in Osun is not taken to that citadel of learning.” The point is that if Nigerians basterdise the education sector in the name of partisan politics, they might not be here at that moment, but their children would be the ones to suffer for it. As a civil servant in Osun State put it, “I have heard that there are so many areas that workers, especially lecturers in OSPOLY, resent the style of management of Dr. Odetayo.” Also, hear a lecturer who craved anonymity: “Even in elections in the school, the Heads of Departments and Deans of Faculties were recently ostracised; he was reported to have campaigned violently against people marked as stooges of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“He lacks the ability to conduct the Board of Studies meetings where crucial academic decisions are taken. “He was alleged of selective contributors in the meetings, while priorities were given to the so-called All Progressives Congress (APC) loyalists in the meetings.” Recall that former Governor Oyetola of the sate appointed Dr. Odetayo as Rector. He did that rightly in his capacity as the Visitor to the institution, however, when the incumbent Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke assumed office, he removed Dr. Odetayo through the declaration of an Executive Order, which stated that all those who were appointed into the positions of authorities by ty immediate past Government few days to his exit without following due process should vacate the office, automatically, Odetayo was conspicuously affected. It took the grace of God for him to be returned to the office after much lobby and political connections. Nonetheless, some aggressived staffers in the Institution thought that it was a slap on them, Adeleke was alleged to have committed the same error done by Oyetola by appointing the Rector by fiat. The normal regulations setting up the polytechnic which gave room for advertisement of Principal Officers in the polytechnic were jettisoned. No formal interview to select the best among the applicants. This, according to stakeholders in the Polytechnic empowered Dr Odetayo to engage in abuse of office, insult, embarrass and victimize members of staff whom he believed were not at home with the abnormal way of his appointment as a substantive Rector of the Institution.
But then, aggrieved members of the academic society reserved the right to petition the state government when they noticed that things were not going right in their environment. Many stakeholders did and the government of the day did not shy away from its responsibility to do the right thing: Suspend (not sack) the man in the eye of the storm; and not give way to any lacuna in administration; hence the appointment of an Acting Rector. In one’s own thinking, it is the norm to allow for unfettered investigation of the tenure of the accused. If he is later found not have breached any law, he was suspended, he could be re-instated. Though, the academic staffers are claiming that he should not be suspended while investigation continurd on his financial and character recklesseless, the Government, through its Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed maintained that it amoral to retain an alleged individual in the office while investigations are in progress on his allegations. He enthused that his staying in office would pervert justice in the exercise. Olawale cited the immediate past Governor of Central Ban of Nigeria, Emefiele who was relieved of his office and Erastus Akingbola of the defunct Intercontinental Bank who was asked to step aside to give room for credible investigation and justice. Though, some members of staff were in the opinion that Odetayo, a chattered Accountant, who has two doctoral degrees to his credit may not be found guilty of financial complicity, but he might not escape character and administrative deficiency.
Omipidan also said something which one found curious. It, to a large extent, negates the spirit of his pro-people and pro-education argument. He said: “in this era of digital and strategic communications, the contents coming from Osun on a daily basis, especially as they relate to the actions and inactions of the current administration, do not portray the state in a good light. “There is a bit of sense in trying to help your kinsmen with political appointments, but in doing so, put your best foot forward, so as not to make nonsense of the intentions. How else can one explain the desire to make a lecturer who has no PhD and who was only promoted to the rank of a Chief Lecturer about one and half years ago a Rector of a polytechnic in flagrant disregard of the extant law of the institution, simply because the beneficiary is your kinsman?”
No, as has been stated earlier, kinsman of no kinsman, the governor of a state has the prerogative to appoint or remove the Head of an Institution in a state he is lawfully recognised as a visitor to that institution. “Besides, it remains to be seen, the law governing the institution in which it is stated that a senior member of the academic staff who has no PhD is not qualified to run the administration of the school,” noted another concerned lecturer. He claimed that the Edict that set up the Institution didn’t state a duration for aquisition of promotion a Chief Lecturer or possession of a PhD as prerequisites for appointment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Polytechnic. A Lecturer from the Faculty of Engineering asserted that the late Mr. Timothy Ademola Ibitoye wo administered the Institution for about seven years on two consecutive times as an Acting Rector and substantive Rector did not possess s PhD, ditto to Engr Fasakin Esho of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke.
Another female lecturer from Faculty of Science added that “there is no law, in setting up the institution, that specifically states that only a PhD holder is qualified to be rector. As a matter of fact, anybody who is in the rank of a Principal Lecturer or Chief Lecturer is qualified to administer the institution, the worst is to appoint the person in acting capacity.
“It is on record that Ibitoye did excellently well even as Mister in the Institution. May God rest his soul.” She went further to say that “it should also be noted that the edict of the polytechnic, like other Polytechnic in Nigeria, does not state that the most Senior Chief Lecturer should be appointed as Rector; it is abnormal to introduce that into the academic community. “It should be noted that the out-gone APC government had once appointed the youngest professor in UNIOSUN, Professor Oguntola Alamu, as Acting Vice Chancellor; and there was no crisis in the school. “There were series of petitions against the suspended rector on his abuse of power, victimisation of staff tagged to be loyalists of the PDP on the campus. He introduced political party system in the polytechnic. He is an embodiment of gross indiscipline. “When he was begging to be confirmed, he was warned against sentimental administration; he was told to see all members of as one; but on getting the confirmation, he became a lion threatening both staff and students on the campus. “The governor has the prerogative to appoint anybody he believes qualifies and bring back the lost glory of love, unity, discipline and academic excellence in the school. “On the allegations of his financial recklessness, corruption and misappropriation, the Governing Board should set up a panel to look into it and recommend accordingly; and as such, it will not be fair for him to be in the office while he is being investigated. It is logical and honourable for him to vacate the office for now. “The polytechnic community and members of the public should be rest assured that he will be given fair hearing and justice will be done in the matter,” the female lecturer said.
It appears trite to share this sentiment; you don’t remain in office when allegations have been made against you and truth has to be found out. You don’t stay as one of the judges in a case against you. Staying in office makes you one of the people to take decisions on the matter; that is injustice. But then, the issue of the governor allegedly favouring an Ede person to be Acting Rector came on. We have dealt with the issue of having or not having a PhD. Also, we mentioned it that the Visitor to any institution has the express power to appoint whoever he thinks will deliver his or her kind of success. But has Governor Adeleke engaged in undue favouritism? On whether Mr Kehinde is qualified or not from General Studies Department, a very Senior Officer of the Institution enthused that “he could be appointed in Acting capacity, but not as a substantive Rector”, he referred to the incumbent Rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, who was appointed from the General Studies. It should also be noted that the Nigeria Polytechnic Act being referred to by the Academic Staff of the Institution is yet to find it’s way to Osun State, hence it is not gazetted by the State House of Assembly and enshrined into the State Polytechnic Edict. Many stakeholders in the OSPOLY matter have plethora of complaints against the suspended rector. It is understandable that in making political appointments, politics always play out. But our leaders need to know that education and health sectors are areas that caution must be exercised. One is most crucial to the future of our states and country, while the other is even with a potential of immediate damage. Although, many stakeholders in OSPOLY are with the opinion that the Odeomu-born accountant that was suspended as rector may not be guilty of financial recklessness, after all, they are adamant that the fact remains that he has been alleged of high-handedness and selective governance, which they claimed might ruin the institution, if not cautioned.
Many stakeholders, especially among the Institution’s Labour leaders claimed that the Polytechnic may not witness peace until due process are followed in the appointment of Principal Officers in the Polytechnic, but not hand-picking them like that of Odetayo.
DRAMA AS SECURITY AGENTS SEND KENNETH UDEZE OUT OF INEC HEADQUARTERS
A mild drama on Tuesday ensued at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja as security agents sent a former member of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr Kenneth Udeze out of the commission’s conference room where chairmen of various registered political parties met with he INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.
The meeting which was at the instance of the INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu was called to assess the last general election.
The Commission had invited the Chairmen of all the registered political parties to the meeting including that of the Action Alliance, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje.
Omoaje who was recently recognized by INEC and had his name inserted into the commission’s official website was said to have arrived the venue of the meeting promptly and duly cleared by security personnel including officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) after which he was given all the necessary souvenirs for the meeting.
However, it was later discovered that the seat meant for the AA chairman (Omoaje) had been occupied by Udeze before his (Omoaje) arrival.
To this end, security personnel at the venue of the meeting accosted Udeze who was said to be an impostor but he refused to leave his seat until he was forceful chased out.
Security operatives attached to the INEC headquarters later chased Udeze out of the venue of the meeting and Omoaje who is the authentic national chairman of the Action Alliance took over the seat prepared for the party.
Udeze was said to have breached all security arrangements made ahead of the meeting as he was not cleared by the security personnel before entering into the meeting.
It would be recalled that Udeze had been suspended and subsequently expelled from the party by the National Think Thank Committee of the party for various alleged offences.
Reacting to the development, the national chairman of the party, Dr Omoaje hailed the security agents for the matured manner at which the matter was handled.
He warned Udeze to desist from his lawless acts and stop impersonating as a member of the AA or an official of the party, just as he called on all security agencies to put their search light on Udeze henceforth, stressing that he had since seized to be a member of the party.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMISSIONER, REV. BUNMI JENYO RESUMES DUTY
Osun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo has on Monday officially resumed duty in the ministry.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Josephine Kehinde Odediran and other top government officials in the ministry, the Honourable Commissioner inspected all the offices in the ministry.
While speaking, Rev. Jenyo urged the entire citizenry of the state to support and encourage the administration of Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, to deliver on his lofty dreams and aspirations for Osun State.
The Honourable Commissioner also charged the staff members of the ministry to keep the offices neat and tidy. According to him, “I have told the staff when I did the walk-round that they must be tidy, being loyal to the ministry and government is not enough, you must keep the environment and the offices clean and tidy”
According to him, the government of Sen. Adeleke will create an enabling environment for investment, with a view to increasing the revenue of the State.
According to him, “I am prepared to be dedicated and committed to all the ventures that can give us more income. If you create an enabling environment which I’m promising to do, definitely you will increase your IGR. We will also create an enabling environment so that lots of people will be interested in coming to Osun to invest, because Osun State has so much potentials”.
He added that the Governor has promised whosoever that will be coming in to invest, that enabling environment will be created and sustained by his administration.
The Commissioner also reiterated his commitment to resuscitate some of the abandoned ventures in the ministry so that they will continue to generate income for the State.
Rev. Jenyo who highlighted the giant strides of Governor Adeleke within the last eight months, maintained that the narrative has changed for the better as gone are those days that the government was crying “no money”.
“Because of no money, they could not construct good roads, they could not do infrastructure, but we can all see what Mr. Governor has achieved in the past few months”.
“Because Mr. Governor blocked all the leakages, there is no longer capital flight to Lagos, as it was used to be. The money for Osun must stay in Osun. And that’s the vision of our Governor “, he said.
TRIBUNAL ADMITS EXCLUSION OF ACTION ALLIANCE LOGO IN BENDE FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTION
The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Abia State has admitted the exclusion of the Action Alliance (AA) logo in the House of Representatives election in Bende Federal constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Hon Benjamin Kalu as winner of the election in the federal constituency.
However, the AA is challenging the election on the ground that its logo was missing on the ballot paper.
The AA candidate, Mr Ifeanyi Chukwuka Igbokwe had claimed that the AA logo and the name of the party were excluded from the ballot paper..
Igbokwe and his party are challenging the election of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and member representing Bende federal constituency, Rt. Benjamin Kalu .
The Petitioners want the tribunal to set aside Kalu’s election over the alleged exclusion of the party’s name and logo on the ballot papers.
AA argued that its candidate if not excluded ought to have won the February 25 national assembly election in the federal constituency.
A certified true copy of a protest letter by AA to INEC where the party complained about the exclusion was tendered in evidence by the National Secretary of AA, Ambassador Suleiman Abdulrasheed.
Subsequently, despite objections by the Respondents’ legal team, the Hon. Justice Samson Paul Gang-led three man panel admitted the documents as exhibit.
The AA National Scribe told the tribunal that Hon. Justice Z. P Abubakar of the Federal High Court Abuja, had in a judgement on suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1759/2022, delivered on November 4, 2022, ordered INEC to immediately upload and publish Igbokwe as the validly nominated AA candidate but INEC refused to do so.
Counsels to all Respondents after objecting to the admissibility of the document said they would give reasons during the submission of the final written addresses.
The AA candidate, Igbokwe, who also testified before the tribunal, during cross examination told the tribunal that the non inclusion of his party’s name and logo, and his subsequent non participation robbed his of victory at the poll.
But Counsels to the Respondents argued that the AA candidate was not validly nominated by his party.
Hearing on the matter was adjourned till Friday for continuation.
Other members of the panel include Hon. Justice Kabiru Ibrahim Ahmed (Member 1); and Hon. Justice Abdulfatai Baba Sekori (Member 2).
INEC RECOGNITION OF OMOAJE AS ACTION ALLIANCE CHAIRMAN IN ORDER, PARTY DECLARES
The Action Alliance (AA) has declared that the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the national chairman of the party by putting his name on the commission’s website was in order.
The party in a statement issued on Monday by its national publicity secretary, Mr Olu Omotoso chastised Kenneth Udeze for interfering into the party’s affairs and warned him to desist from issues that affect the party, just as it called on Nigerians to disregard Udeze and his outbursts.
The statement reads ” the attention of the leadership of our great party, the Action Alliance (AA) has been drawn to a statement issued by one Mr Kenneth Udeze, an expelled member of the party where he erroneously claim that the name of Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje was put on the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by some staff of the commission without necessary approval.
“We want to strongly condemn the statement credited to Udeze and state unequivocally that Udeze lacks the right to comment on any issue that affects the party as he is not a member of the party and neither does he hold any stake in the party.
“For record purpose, it’s pertinent to state for the upteenth time that Udeze had long been suspended from the party and was consequently expelled from the party by the National Think Thank Committee, which is the highest ruling organ of the party.
“To allege that the name of Hon (Dr) Adekunle Rufai Omoaje was inputted by some staff of the commission was a proof of the stuff Udeze was made of as he is known for forgery, impersonation and other dubious acts.
“For us in the Action Alliance, we have always toed the path of truth, justice and peace. This, we have consistently done in the past few months when the Independent National Electoral Commission changed wrongly put the name of Udeze on the INEC website as against the party’s wish and orders of the court.
“Let us bring it on notice again that some courts of competent jurisdictions including the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Federal High Court, Abuja and Abuja division of the Court of Appeal in separate judgements declared Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the authentic national chairman of the Action Alliance and ordered INEC to recognize Omoaje.
“The courts in their judgments also ordered INEC to input the name of Omoaje on its website and accord him (Omoaje) the necessary recognition of the party’s national chairman.
“We waited so long till justice was done and till INEC also respect and honour the court judgement by inputting the name of Omoaje on its website. This was done in accordance with the orders of the court.
“To this end, we wish to state unequivocally that Kenneth Udeze is an impostor who is not known to our party, the Action Alliance.
“Also, it’s important to state clearly that INEC acted in accordance with court judgment and its actions are in order. Inserting the name of Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje on the INEC website was in order and it’s pleasing to the generality of our members in the Action Alliance. INEC did not act wrongly and it’s actions are welcome by the party, he added.
TWO FIRST BANK OFFICIALS IN COURT OVER STEALING,, FRAUD
Two staff members of the First Bank Plc, Kehinde David Oludare and Awolola Olalekan Ayodeji have been dragged before an Osun State High Court sitting in Ila-Orangun for allegedly falsifying an account belonging to an immigration officer, Mr Badiru Adeyemi Oluwafemi.
The duo of Kehinde and Awolola who were attached to the Inisha Branch of the bank were said to be the Business Manager and Account Officer of Badiru respectively as at the time the alleged crime was committed in 2015.
The matter, which has suffered series of long adjournment had earlier been tried at the Okuku division of the court by four different Judges before it was transferred to Justice G Lawal of Ila-Orangun division.
When the case was mentioned on Tuesday, the two defendants were absent in Court, but their counsel, Mr Olamide Olabode told the court that Awolola Olalekan traveled to Imo State, hence his inability to appear before the court.
The State Counsel, Mr Biodun Badiora expressed worry on the delay suffered by the case and urged the court to expedite actions on the matter.
The trial judge, Justice Lawal also observed that the case file was not well kept as it looks dirty, an indication that the case has started a long time ago.
The defendants were in 2015 charged on a five count charge of stealing, keeping of fraudulent account, falsifying books of account and fraudulent false accounting.
The offences were said to be contrary to sections 435 (B), 438 (B) and 390 (9) of the criminal code law, Cap 3 laws of Osun State 2002.
Badiru had told the court that the two suspects had paid the sum of one million naira into his account domiciled at the First Bank Plc without soliciting for it, alleging the two bank officials of plan to defraud him through their action.
He said “the two suspects with intent to defraud me made or were privy to making false entry into my account when without authority created a loan account number 3896210013660 in the name of Badiru Adeyemi Oluwafemi, purporting to show that I took the loan on the said account.”
The court adjourned the matter till 21st September, 2023 for arraignment and hearing.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SENATE DEPUTY MINORITY LEADER
Hearty felicitations to the Deputy Minority Leader of the 10th Senate, Akogun Lere Oyewumi (PHD) representing Osun West Senatorial District in the upper Chamber of the National Assembly.
Senator Oyewumi’s election into the new office lends credence to his capacity and popularity, being a first timer to occupy such a sensitive principal position in the red Chamber.
Senator Oyewumi, who is a known grassroots mobiliser and astute politician, is indeed a pride and shinning star, not only to the people of Osun West or Osun State but also Nigeria, as a country.
May the Almighty GOD who has brought you this far uphold your course to discharge duties to your constituents accordingly, and also grant you the desirable wisdom and enablement for optimal performance and successful tenure of office by HIS grace, AMEN.
Congratulations my distinguished leader.
Signed: Reverend ‘Bunmi Jenyo (JP) Former Zonal Secretary, PDP South West, Nigeria. 4th July, 2023.
AKINRUN-IN-COUNCIL CELEBRATES YEYE DUPE ADELEKE-SANNI
The Akinrun-in-council has felicitated with the Amazon of the Adeleke’s dynasty of Ede, Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni as she celebrates her birthday.
The council which comprises of the Akinrun of Ikirun and all the traditional chiefs of the town described Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni as a woman of substance whose contributions to the development of the state cannot be underestimated.
In a congratulatory message signed by the head of the council who is also the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Yunus Olalekan Akadiri, the entire Akinrun in Council appreciates God for the gift of Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni to man kind and Osun State in particular.
Besides, the council lauded the efforts of the celebrant at ensuring the overall development of the state and her contributions to the wellbeing of many indigenes and residents of the state
The council recalls the meritorious contributions of Yeye Dupe Adeleke Sanni to the upliftment of the lives of many downtrodden people within and outside the state.
Also, the Akinrun in Council prayed to God to grant the celebrant long life and good health to continue with her services for the state, the country and humanity at large.
The council also wishes the celebrant many more prosperous years and urged her to continue with her services to God and humanity as she grows in age.
A resounding celebration to an amazing mother, iconic leader and courageous jewel of inestimable value, Yeye Modupeola Alake Adeleke-Sanni on this memorable occasion of your birthday anniversary.
Nothing else qualifies an individual to be an effective leader as the zeal, passion and love for others. Yeye has proven beyond reasonable doubts that she is one.
Your sagacity, native intelligence and resilience towards advancing the course of humanity is second to none and this distinguishes you from ordinary into extraordinary being.
May you continue to experience the faithfulness of the Almighty GOD as you age into a fresh season of unprecedented impact, countless testimonies and favour of GOD in all your endeavours, AMEN.
Many more fruitful and prosperous years ahead by HIS grace.
Congratulations Aunty!
Signed: Reverend ‘Bunmi Jenyo, Former Zonal Secretary, PDP South West, Nigeria. 22/06/2023.
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