From John Dike, Osogbo

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has accused his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola of rushing to establish the University of Ilesa without following due process.

The Governor queried the rush for the establishment of the university, describing it as a political project which the former Governor conceived towards the end of his tenure.

Adeleke made this position known when he visited the College of Education Ilesa, now University of Ilesa, on Friday.

He stated that Oyetola’s government began the process of upgrading the College of Education to university when the 2022 governorship election was approaching.

The governor hinted that he visited the institution to assess the actual state of the University of Ilesa and rub minds with people of Ijeshaland for development of the state.

He promised that his administration will ensure that the University is properly established, just like the PDP government did on the Osun State University.

Receiving the detailed report, Governor Adeleke commended the committee for a great job and promised to issue a white paper on it as soon as possible.

According to him, “Let me remind Ijesa people that I was the first to propose an upgrade of the College of Education to University of Ilesa. I made the promise at the Palace of the Kabiyesi Owa of Ijesaland during the 2018 elections.

“We all know that Mr Oyetola for three years did nothing on the university until the approach of the 2022 elections. My predecessor rushed the establishment of the University as a political project.

My goal is to ensure that the Univeristy is properly establshed just as the PDP government did on the establshment of the Osun State University. The review committee on the subject has submitted its report and I am issuing a white paper soon.

“I declare today that my administration is not stopping the establishment of University of Ilesa. This university has come to stay.

“My administration will soon release details of its plans on the university, he noted.

However, the recommendation of the Review Committee of University of Ilesa, chaired by Professor Taiwo Ashaolu, stated that the process of appointment must follow the extant law, the university should commence with eight faculties, namely; Education and Vocational Technology, Management Sciences, Social sciences, Science, Technology and Innovations, Humanities and Cultures, Agriculture and Agric Business and Basic Medical Sciences.

Asaolu said, “All the existing staff both academic and and non-teaching of Osun State College of Education Ilesha are to be transited to the university. Recruitment process shall be by advertisement in national newspapers and other medium.

“Among the recommendations, An institute of education should be established under the faculty of education in the university to oversee the completion of the programme of the current students.

“For smooth running of the university, multiple sources of income is hereby recommended.

“The tuition fee for the school should be affordable,” he added