Osun state College of Technology, Esa-Oke , has reacted to the protest held on Monday against the alleged plans to establish a satellite campus in Ibokun and relocate some departments from Esa-Oke to the town in question.
Recall that Esa Oke residents including masquerades had hit the streets of the ancient town to show that they disagreed strongly with the alleged plans to relocate some departments from the town to Ibokun.
Spokesman for the institution , Mr Ajilore A.O in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com urged peace and emphasized the need to sustain the existing peaceful atmosphere in the ancient town.
‘IMPORTANT NOTICE
The Management team has received security report that some people are planning to breach the existing peace on our campus by engaging in protests. We believe Peace which is an essential ingredient for progress and development should under no circumstances be compromised, especially at this time when the College is making tremendous progress by all standards.
We believe in the State Government and the College Administration’s ability to resolve all issues amicably.
We call for understanding of indigenes, students and all stakeholders on the matter. Please let all give peace a chance.
Consequently, all Staff and Students are to observe the security situation before reporting to their various offices and departments on Monday 5th February, 2024. Also, the Staff Audit Exercise for Contract, Casual and Daily Paid workers at the College scheduled to commence on same date (05/02/2024) has been postponed till the security situation is confirmed satisfactory.
Once again, we call for calmness as all issues are being addressed at the appropriate quarters.
Thank you and God bless’ he said.
In a radio interview on Monday , Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Prince Diran Odeyemi also said:
‘My message to them is that they should cooperate with the government. They should not allow APC and other opposition parties to use them against the government. We have not done anything wrong; we have followed due processes and we will not do anything that will be against their interests. I am a bona-fide indigene of this local government. I am the first chairman to come from Ibokun local government and Iam committed to the development of our local government. They should see me as part of them. Nothing is going out of that college as we speak and I give them that assurance’ .
‘ I think the first question you need to ask them is what are those courses that we want to relocate from the college. It’s not right for people to base their actions on rumours. It is not right for people to allow politicians to use them as a tool to make certain decisions that will not be beneficial to the society and themselves.
The question you as a journalist should ask them is, well, you are alleging that they want to move some courses from Esa-Oke, what are those courses? Let me go further, what are the facilities in place that we want to move and what are the reasons that were given for the movement of those courses to another place? What I’m saying in essence is that there’s nothing like that. It’s a complete fabrication. It’s a way of inciting the community against the management team of the college’ he added.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has also reacted to the rumours that his administration has approved the establishment of satellite campus of the state College of Technology, Esa Oke in Ibokun.
In a statement made available toTeam@orientactualmags.com by his Spokesperson , Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor described the rumours as untrue.
‘I am directed to confirm to the good people of Esa Oke that no such approval was given by Mr Governor. The status quo ante remains.
At no point in time has the governor approved such a plan. The public should regard the report as the handiwork of mischief makers and a failed attempt to disrupt the peace of that growing academic community Mr Governor calls on the youth and elders of Esa Oke to maintain peace and avoid incitement to violence-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you
