Appointment of VC stirs controversy at UNIOSUN

PUNCH - Osun State University, Osogbo has been mired in controversy, following a shortlist of six candidates by the institution’s council for the post of vice-chancellor. TUNDE ODESOLA, examines the issues raised by various parties

 Being a professor in a university is an honorable thing. But as revered as being one is, being a vice-chancellor is far sweeter.  If this is not so,  how does one explain the fierce urge with which several dons are yearning to become the new VC at the Osun State University, Osogbo?

When  the Council in charge of recruiting the person that will occupy the chair vacated by Prof. Sola Akinrinade last  July, not less than 13 professors applied. This swift response, the determination, if not desperation, of some of the applicants to get the plum job has, however, stirred a controversy that is threatening the integrity of the process as well as the independence of the institution.

Indeed, the varsity established by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is now embroiled in crisis. This is to the point that  the state House of Assembly has ordered the governing council of the university to stop the process. This action, observers say, is motivated by some influential candidates who did not meet some of the required qualifications set by the council. The pronouncement of the lawmakers, some members of the university say, also amounts to the usurpation of the powers of the council to appoint a VC.

The new council was inaugurated by Governor Rauf Aregbesola in November 2012 after the Prof. Peter Okebukola-led council completed its four-year tenure between 2007 and 2011.  The new council comprises seven external members: a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adeyinka Omigbodun; a professor of Agricultural Engineering, Obafemi Ajibola; and Prof Gabriel Adegboyega of the Department of Electrical and Electronics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Others are Dr. Abeke Omotoso of the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan; Chief Executive Officer, Chams, Sir. Demola Aladekomo; Group Managing Director, IGI, Mr. Remi Olowude and Prof. Adesiyan Olawoyin (SAN), who is the pro-chancellor and chairman of council.

The council’s internal members include the acting VC, Prof. Ganiu Olatunde, Prof. Christopher Alebiosu, who is the provost, College of Health Sciences; Prof. Olukoya Ogen, Prof. Abayomi Kizito –Provost, College of Humanities and Culture, Mr. Abiodun Adesoji, Dr. Idowu Akintayo and permanent secretaries of state ministries of education and finance.

Inaugurating the council, Aregbesola had charged the members with repositioning the university with a view to attaining global academic standards and proffering solutions to societal challenges. The council, in order to achieve the mandate given to it by the state governor, immediately started the process of appointing a new VC for the university. The council placed an advertisement seeking qualified candidates to apply for the plum job. In response to the advert, a number of candidates submitted applications for the post of the VC.

They included Labode Poopola; a professor of Forest Economy at UI, Joshua Obaleye, a former Dean of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin; Ayo Agbonjimi, a professor of Human Kinetics, who was formerly of Lagos State University and Kola Oloke, a professor of Microbiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.

Others that applied include Clement Adeboye, a professor of Agriculture, UNIOSUN; Bayonle Olorede, also a professor of Agriculture, UNIOSUN; Siyan Oyeweso, a professor of History, UNIOSUN; Ladiran Famurewa, a professor of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Mojeed Alabi, a professor of Political Science, UNILORIN, Fatai Balogun, a professor of Engineering Physics, OAU, Bashiru Okesina, former DVC, UNIOSUN, Olu Odeyemi, a professor of Microbiology, OAU and Duro Ajeyalemi, a professor of education at the University of Lagos.

The Search Committee of the council, after a rigorous screening, had shortlisted six candidates. These are Julius Oloke, Duro Ajeyalemi, Ayo Ogbonjimi, Olu Odeyemi. Joshua Obaleye , Oladiran Famurewa. But as soon as the identities of the shortlisted candidates were known, a group within the university, under the aegis of Concerned Professionals, accused the council of negating the UNIOSUN Establishment Law 2006 – in the selection process. This, the group described, “as skewed and done to favour a selfish agenda.”

Specifically, the group said two of the six candidates on the shortlist were above the mandatory 59 years of age required by applicants for the post. The group also said one of those shortlisted had never served as a dean, thus contravening another requisite condition for applicants for the post of VC.

The group said, “Some of the shortlisted candidates are 63 years and 66 years. One of them is a retired professor, which is against the norm of the university. How can you shortlist a retired professor, who is above 66 years? This is broad day infraction of UNIOSUN law. It is a rape of ethical norms and standards. UNIOSUN should retrace its steps and toe the path of honour. The whole world is watching.”

Another issue raised by those who disagree with the shortlist is the non-inclusion of Okesina, the former DVC, on the premise that he does not possess a PhD. Explaining that the possession of a PhD is not a requisite academic credential for scholars in the medical fields who are vying for the position of a vice-chancellor, the group noted that the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole, and the Vice-Chancellor, LASU, Prof. John Obafunwa, “do not possess a PhD but have fellowships of post graduate medical colleges which are equivalent to PhD. This is the position of the NUC. If Adewole could emerge as UI VC, what standard is UNIOSUN proclaiming?”

Another group within the university, Justice and Integrity Forum, whose members sought anonymity, contended that it was wrong for the council “to shortlist a 67-year-old retired professor.” The group said, “The agenda is to shortlist candidates who are not eligible. The council will later disqualify those shortlisted and would search for a candidate that would be appointed to serve a personal agenda.  Why are the candidates who do not have problems with their ages not shortlisted?”

In view of the claims, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Nojeem Salaam, directed that the selection process must be put on hold, pending the review of the law of the university, which is before the assembly. Salaam, who appealed for calm within the university community, urged the people concerned to go about their duties without fear.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, on Thursday, the council chairman declined to comment on the directive of the legislature, adding that it (council) would strictly follow due process.

He said, “When Governor Rauf Aregbesola inaugurated the council, we assured him that we were going to ensure due process. I will not mortgage my integrity. A few of them are sending emissaries to me. One of the candidates sent 17 people to me. We will continue to live above board. We won’t bend the law to accommodate anybody. If you are one month short of 10 years as a professor, you won’t be shortlisted. We are going to do what is right and just.”

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