A group, the Ibarapa social cultural group, has urged Governor Seyi Makinde to appoint an indigene of Ibarapa land as the Rector of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology.
The group made the call in a letter to Governor Makinde signed by its President, Ganiu Owoseeni and Secretary, John Oyegoke.
“We want to commend your brilliant efforts of your Godly and transparent administration most especially in the area of Education. You have finally restored a permanent industrial harmony in our State own Tertiary Institutions due to the restoration of 100% salary and the prompt payment of monthly salaries and arrears on 25th of every month; this is highly commendable as the economy of host communities has equally been restored.
“We equally appreciate the recent pronouncement of the newly constituted Governing Council Members to these Tertiary Institutions, this is coming at the right time and will go a long way addressing various management issues peculiar to each institution,” the letter read in part.
However, the group noted that since the establishment of the institution, no single indigene of the town had been appointed neither the Rector not Governing Council chair of the school.
Speaking on the history of the leadership status of the school, they wrote, “Prof. G. Farinu, a Professor from LAUTECH and indigene of Ibadan was the pioneer Rector from 2006-2011. Chief Saka Balogun from Ogbomosho was the pioneer Governing Council Chairman at then. In the course of that administration, no single Ibarapa indigene was a member of either the management nor the Governing Council Team.
“Prof. J.G Adewale also from LAUTECH and Indigene of Ibadan succeeded Prof. Farinu as Acting Rector and Rector between 2011-2019. Chief Soarez also from Ibadan was the Governing Council between 2011-2015, Prof. Lateef Sanni, succeeded Chief Soarez between 2017-2019. Prof. lateef Sanni was equally from Ibadan.
“Succession of Prof. J.G became controversial when his tenure finally lapsed in 2019, as the Deputy Rector then was supposed to be appointed as the Acting Rector, unfortunately the Dep. Rector been an Ibarapa Indigene was robbed and the present Acting Rector, Mr. Isiaka Adekunle , an Ibadan Indigene was shockingly pronounced the Acting Rector till date (“o dori akayin, akara deegun”).”
They maintained that even though they are not against the re-appointment of Professor Lateef Sanni as the Chairman of the school’s Governing Council, they believe for transparency and fairness, the time for an indigenous Rector in the institution is now.
“Ibarapa equally have qualified personnel doing brilliantly well in different sectors both Nationally and Internationally,” the group added.
