I Won’t Disrespect, Muzzle Ekiti Monarchs, Fayemi Vows
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has presented the staff of office to the new Oluloro of Iloro Ekiti, Oba James Oluwafemi Olugbesoye, with a pledge to always accord respect to the traditional institution.
Fayemi said the traditional institution remains a major mechanism for good governance through the reconciliatory and advisory roles it plays in the society.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor urged the new monarch to mobilise his subjects for the growth and development of Iloro Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, Oba Olugbesoye succeeded the last occupant of the Oluloro throne, the late Oba Michael Ayoola Arowolo, who joined his ancestors in September 2015.
There was excitement in the community as many eminent personalities, including political office holders, monarchs, senior civil servants and indigenes, graced the coronation of Oba Olugbesoye.
Fayemi urged the monarch to accommodate, endure, persevere, tolerate and dutifully lead his subject in a way that would facilitate and sustain the peace and progress of his community.
He explained that the selection of Olugbesoye was adjudged smooth, hitch-free and devoid of political influence and manipulation in line with the provisions of Ekiti State Chiefs Law, 2012 and the tradition and custom of Iloro people.
Fayemi stressed the commitment of his administration to always accord respect to the traditional institution and carry it along in ensuring peace, progress and development of the state.
The governor said traditional institution remains a major mechanism for good governance through the reconciliatory and advisory roles they play in the society.
National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, has debunked the insinuation in some quarters that the union now has a splinter group.
Ogunyemi has also disclosed that it is not a crime for lecturers to teach in two different universities.
Ogunyemi made the clarification when he featured on the
Forum in Abuja. He has also decried the recruitment system in the universities, regretting that many people not qualified to teach had found their way into the system.
“I do not believe that there is a faction in ASUU. What you see that is playing out is the expression of misgivings by some of our members who are dissatisfied with the sanctions meted out to them for violating the provisions of our constitution.
“And you will find the largest concentration at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; and in that university, you will also find that we still control up to 60 per cent or more of the membership.
“And, if you leave Ile-Ife and go to other campuses where they are pronouncing that they want to join one group or the other, you cannot count more than five in those universities.
“That tells you that the group we are talking about just exists in the air, that group is not on ground,’’ he said.
According to him, University of Ilorin and the Federal University, Lokoja, are now fully back in ASUU and so cannot be listed as those opposing the union. “I visited the place and I met with a few people that said they were dissatisfied with the way the union was being run in the branch.“After engaging them, they said that they were ready to join the union and so they are going back to ASUU.’’
Ogunyemi noted that the association had always engaged dissatisfied members to address their grievances and work towards moving the union forward. He said that the union was currently resolving the crisis at Obafemi Awolowo University, adding that the crisis between members of the union in the institution would soon be resolved.
Meanwhile, Ogunyemi has disclosed that it is not a crime for lecturers to teach in two different universities.
He said that teaching in two universities would afford the opportunity for lecturers to borrow and learn ideas from one another. “The university systems allows for what we call Sabbatical. It is part of university tradition and practices all over the world.