• Condemns Makinde’s Action
One of the paramount groups of Ogbomosho indigenes, Ogbomoso Descendants Development Association, ODDA, has condemned in strong terms the ongoing proposal of the Oyo State led by, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to turn the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, into a multi-campus institution.
In a brief press release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the group, Comrade Aremu Segun Kuti, the group said it is a calculated onslaught against Ogbomosoland and vowed to resist such affront.
This reaction like many others across divides, is coming on the heal of the Oyo state government’s proposal to split the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, into multi-campus institution.
In the strongly-worded statement, ODDA said “We, the Ogbomosos were not only taken aback but pained when the state government confirmed the hitherto rumoured next stage of political onslaught against our Ogbomosoland by its Wednesday announcement of the proposed Bill to make Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso into multi-campus institution. We strongly take this as a deliberate but unprovoked war against our land in an attempt to weaken her revered status.
With the current sole-ownership of LAUTECH, all zones in Oyo State are now having one or two state institutions namely Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, College of Agriculture, Igboora, Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Technical University, Ibadan and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. But before this, while LAUTECH was still co-owned by both Oyo and Osun States, none of these other institutions were established to be multi-campus and none till date is multi-campus; why then trying to share LAUTECH as if it is spoils of war?”
The Association commended the efforts of the Oyo State governor and his Osun State counterpart in resolving the ownership imbroglio that has kept the institution aground for long and pleaded with the governor not to allow himself to be mislead by those who are executing political onslaught against Ogbomosoland.
Ogbomosoland is not only the second largest land in Oyo State but also for centuries have been occupying a prestigious place in the entire Yorubaland and Nigeria; so while we thank the governors of Oyo and Osun states again for the amicable resolution of LAUTECH ownership, we also plead with the governor not to allow himself to be used by those who are unknowingly pushing for his downfall by trying to make him archenemy of Ogbomoso people home and abroad.”; the Association pleaded.
The Association also vowed that like its sister associations in Ogbomoso, it shall not only stand firm to confront what it called unprovoked onslaught on their ancestral land as usual but also shall remain resolute in keeping LAUTECH as a mono-campus institution by participating fully in the amendment of the law establishing it.
The indigenous group also said “ODDA shall fight to keep LAUTECH as it is even if all other institutions in the state are broken into multi-campus institutions across all zones by those who are the architects of the ongoing balkanisation of our dear Oyo State.”
If you must break LAUTECH into multi-campuses, then be ready to break all other state-owned higher institutions into the same status where Ogbomosoland enjoys their campuses in its domain and anything short of that shall be vehemently resisted by our people home and abroad.
