Students of the Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo in Ondo State and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution, Tuesday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari not to reverse the status of the University back to College of Education.
The institution was among four colleges of education that were upgraded to the status of specialized Universities of Education two weeks to the end of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure.
But, some group of people in the upgraded colleges have been making a move for the reversal of the Universities to colleges of education.
It was gathered those behind the move believed that If the newly upgraded universities commence activities fully, the system may not accommodate them.
DAILY POST gathered that their agitation has been yielding positive result as the four former Provosts of the upgraded colleges have been allegedly given letters by the ministry of education to return back to their various colleges.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the ASUU, the President, Students Union Government (SUG), Comrade Adeyemi Ogunrotifa appealed to Buhari not to fall to the tricks of those he called disgruntled elements by approving the reversal of the Universities.
Ogunrotifa said apart from winning the Presidential election in the state, the school environment also gave the President massive votes.
“Mr. President should please not take us back to the Egypt. We are now proud that we are University students. Reversing of our University will lead to disaster.
“Mr. President, Adeyemi University students voted for you and our lecturers mobilise for your emergence. Don’t pay us back with reversal of our University to college of education. It will just be like returning the Israelites to Egypt,” he said.
The ASUU Chairman, Dr. Samuel Akintunde said the alleged plan to reverse their institution status back to college was politically motivated.
Besides, the ASUU called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo and two of their Alumni students, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, to rise for their defence.
While, disassociating his members from the reversal move, Akintunde also urged the Federal Government to make its decision known on the fate of the newly upgraded Colleges.
Students and lecturers stormed the venue with placards, some of which read “Who is higher, Permanent Secretary or FEC?, No to Reversal to college; AFUED has come to stay, Please do not play politics with our education.”
Akintunde said “the purported reversal of the institution is embellished in high politicking because we heard that due process was not followed after the pronouncement of the immediate past Federal Executive Council (FEC) led by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“But the government should note that the newly upgraded Colleges to Universities have the human and structural resources to make the new system work efficiently. The government should not panic that it may require huge resources for the sustainability of the Universities because only few amount is needed to be added to what is budgeted for the upgraded colleges.
“Incidentally, government has committed huge amount of resources in training academic staff of these institutions.”
Also, the Dean of faculty of Languages, Dr. Johnson Ojo said he believed President Muhammadu Buhari had not been briefed on the issue, describing the reversal move as the handiwork of those he called fifth columnists.
“What power does the acting Permanent Secretary has to issue a letter for the reversal of appointment made by the FEC? If the reversal must be done, it should be done by the same FEC?
“I voted for President Buhari and I can ask him question. He won in Ondo State, got a massive vote from the university environment. We believe the President is not aware of this move. We don’t want any provost again. We have a sitting Vice-Chancellor and Adeyemi University has come to stay”. .
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