Adeleke given ultimatum over Osun Poly crisis

,,,,,One week after the crisis that trailed the suspension of Dr Tajudeen Adewale Odetayo as the Rector of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, the school has remained shut as The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) have decided to suspend administrative activities until the State Government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke addresses the matter.

,,,,,,According to a communique signed by the SSANIP Chairman, the Union stated toed the path of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP, stating that the due process was not followed in the suspension of Odetayo and appointment of Mr Kehinde Alabi as acting Rector.

The communique sighted by InsightMedia read, “if a Rector is suspended, the Deputy Rector or the next person in rank should be asked to act in his absence. This is in line with the dictates of the Polytechnic Act.

“As a result of the above, the union have…decided to suspend administrative activities on campus until the State Government addresses the matter.”

While speaking with InsightMedia on Thursday, the ASUP Chairman, Dr Fatai Afolabi, said the union will not resume until the government rescind its position on appointment of Alabi.

He said, “Nobody has resumed and also the non-teaching staff have joined the strike. They have also communicated to the Government, because they had congress on Monday and decided to support ASUP in this course.”

When asked if talks are ongoing, Afolabi said, “We have met with several organs of Government. The Council Chairman, Commissioner for Education at different places, also with the Party Chairman and Commissioner in attendance and they have promised to find solutions to the matter”.

“Secondly one of the things they promised to do was to start the process which they have initiated by giving our suspended Rector a query and the petition and ask him to answer it between 24 hours, which he replied to yesterday (Wednesday), so we are waiting for further notice from them”.

Reacting to the development, a Statement signed by the Students Union Government President, Azeez Tajudeen Adebayo, expressed the students concern and disappointment over the ongoing impasse in the school.

However, The body issued an ultimatum to the concerned parties to settle the…..issues before Monday, 7th August, 2023, failure which will lead to massive protest in Osogbo.

“In light of the lack of progress and the urgency of the situation, we, the Student Union Government (SUG), hereby issue an ultimatum to the concerned parties to settle the issues and convene the reconciliation meeting before Monday, 7th August 2023”.

“We firmly believe that this ultimatum allows sufficient time for all parties to come together, engage in constructive dialogue, and reach a resolution that prioritizes the interests of the students and the academic community”.

“Failure to heed this ultimatum will leave the student body….with no choice but to stage a peaceful protest at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo”.

“We want to emphasize that our protest will be conducted responsibly, adhering to the principles of peace, respect for law and order, and the rights of all individuals”.

,,,,,,“We urge all concerned parties to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness it deserves. We believe that through cooperation and open dialogue, a resolution can be achieved that benefits all stakeholders”, the statement concluded.