IBARAPA POLYTECHNIC CRISIS: GOVERNING COUNCIL CHAIRMAN RAISES ALARM OVER THREAT TO LIFE

The crisis was reported to have recently resulted in attack on the Acting Registrar of the Institution Mr Samuel Obagunle who is currently in a critical condition at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Oyo State Capital.

Penpushing reports that the Governing Council Chairman while narrating his ordeal noted that the genesis of the problem started when the Governing Council of the Institution found the former Management team, led by Iyiola Eyitayo guilty of gross misconduct which led to their suspension.

Speaking with journalists, Ogundiran who is an Associate Professor of Educational Administration and Planning said,” i noticed a particular phone number was calling me which i refused to pick,when i later picked the call, the voice i heard was a voice of an old man, he called my name three times and started saying some incantations and cursing me.’

“Immediately, i called the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu to inform him about the development, and i also informed the Area Commander of Police in Eruwa, on Saturday morning, I saw the text message of the Chairman of Eruwa Elders in Council, warning me not to pick any call because of security purpose, the Acting Rector, Mr Adejumo later called me and told me that the Acting Registrar, Samuel Obagunle was attacked and beaten up, and he is currently in a critical condition, and has been rushed to UCH in Ibadan’.

“The Acting Rector told me that the same assailants that called me was the one who called the Acting Registrar and took him to the outskirt of Eruwa where he was beaten and injured, leaving him half dead on the road side before people see him and took him to UCH”.

Penpushing further reports that, when asked about why his life has been threatened and who he suspected, Ogundiran pointed out that the suspended Rector of the institution, Eyitayo might be responsible for it, adding that the refusal of the former Acting Permanent Secretary of Oyo State Ministry of Education to reinstate him did not go well with him.

“Eyitayo went for a meeting between him and the Acting Management team in Ibadan on Friday, unknowing to him that the appointment of the new Permanent Secretary made by former Governor Ajimobi, who gave him letter of reinstatement, has been reversed, so his reinstatement letter was nullified.”

Penpushing also reports that, Ogundiran emphasised that the Governing Council suspended the former Management team because a falsehood information, noting that the information in their file was forged.

“They forged information containing their annual leaves, the Governing Council set up a committee and the former Management team was made to face the panel upper week, which they were found guilty, and the panel presented their reports in a meeting on Tuesday 28th of May, 2019 and they were eventually suspended.”

The Chairman reiterated further that the suspended Management team diverted almost 25 payments been made by the students of the institution to their own personal account instead of paying it into the school account, noting that only four payments have been made into the school account.

Penpushing reports that, Ogundiran, however said that the suspension letter of the former Management team was giving to them on Thursday 30th of May, which they refused to acknowledge.

When contacted on phone on Sunday morning, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Shina Olukolu pointed out that the Governing Council Chairman actually called to informed him about some strange things that was happening around the institution.

The Commissioner added that if Ogundiran had such a fear and complaint, he should put it into writing and forward it to the police for investigation, stressing that anybody found guilty shall be dealt with according to the law.

“There is a dispute in the school according to him, but the Governing Council is there, and the owner of the institution which is the Oyo State Government is also there, so this matter can be resolved through this procedure”, he said