FOLLOWING the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State on Monday, authorities of the institution have declared a two-week mid-semester break for the students of the school.

A statement by the management said holiday began on Monday and asked the students to stay away from the institution.

But the Visitor to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Governor Oyinlola, has countered the directive, stating that the university remains open to normal academic activities.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Osun State Governor, Mr Lasisi Olagunju, also dismissed Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s claim to the visitorship of the school, contending that the claim has no basis both in law and the convention governing the institution.

“ It is on record that then Governor Rasidi Ladoja of Oyo State signed the appointment letter of Professor Babatunde Adeleke as the vice chancellor of the university in 2005, so if we are to assume (without conceding) that the yearly rotation argument of Oyo State is the truth, whose turn will it be in 2010? The public can calculate and judge. Even then, we say the visitorship of the school rotates on six monthly basis, based on the period each state pays LAUTECH workers’ salaries. Oyo State government knows this. It is just being clever by half,” the statement by Osun State government said.

The government noted that the Oyo State government knew that the six monthly rotational arrangement preceded the current governors of the two states and wondered why the Oyo State government would “ridicule itself telling white lies and shooting itself in the foot with that false claim.”

Prince Oyinlola declared that Professor Olanrewaju Nassar, who purportedly ordered the university’s closure on Tuesday, does not have the power to close down the university, because Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, who appointed him as the acting vice chancellor by law ceased to be chairman of the Governing Council of the university over two years ago, precisely on March 28, 2008.

“Indeed, the attention of the governors of the two owner states was drawn to the expiration of the tenure by a letter Ref. No.: REG/CA/12 dated 18th March, 2008, signed by the Acting Registrar of LAUTECH.

“The Governing Council of LAUTECH of which Chief Ayorinde was chairman statutorily ceased to exist on 22nd March, 2008; its inaugural meeting having been held on 23rd March, 2004 for a four-year tenure. The council was never reappointed and so, Chief Ayorinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, knows he lacked the power to function a day after 22nd March, 2008. This, in essence, means that Professor Nassar never existed as acting vice chancellor of the university and can therefore not close down the school.

“All persons, corporate organisations and staff of the university are strongly advised not to engage in any illegal official dealings with Professor Nassar and members of the dissolved university council,” Oyinlola urged.


Source : http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/8865-lautech-declares-2-week-break-school-remains-open-osun-govt