Tinubu: An Uncaring Chancellor who only boasts of his wealth

By Oyedeji Ahmed

All my life, I’ve admired former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who remains a regular resource person with valid and astonishing torrent of achievements, accomplishments and successes in the areas of human resource management, politics and businesses, hence, he has all it takes to reposition and restore the glory of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

He is a man with accolades and many feats, one with a midas-touch, a money bag who excels in all his endeavours as he has demonstrated with the transformation he started in Lagos state in 1999. We are living witnesses to the positive change, consolidation and progressive approaches of all his achievements and successes in accordance with the visionary blueprint he designed which has made Lagos State one of the most prosperous and the largest economies in the world.

It is an undeniable fact that Tinubu played an important role in championing the mantra and ideology of change in the 2015 election which led to the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, a feat which is sufficient to justify his laudatory comportment as an achiever and the most fit and qualified to be appointed as the chancellor of the 29 year old institution.

His appointment, which many had thought would reposition the institution has only exposed her to danger. Tinubu, who is bestowed with lot of responsibilities couldn’t lift a feather as he watches silently the final burial of the institution.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on April 23, 2015, assured Nigerians of a better living condition under his party’s administration. He stated this at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, during his lecture to mark the institution’s 12th Convocation ceremony. He said emphatically while delivering his speech that “the APC administration would ensure economic growth and job opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths.

“As I conclude, I need to place on record my appreciation of the efforts of the progressive governments of the two Owner-States of Oyo and Osun for their commitment to the growth and development of LAUTECH.

“I also acknowledge the good leadership provided by the Governing Council, ably led by Professor Wale Omole, OFR. I sincerely salute the courage of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi S. Gbadegesin and the Management team for bracing up to the challenges the University has had to face in recent times.

“The Senate, all Staff and Students are well recognized and appreciated for their contributions to the peaceful atmosphere in which the University has been carrying out its work.

“Finally, ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege to assure you all that LAUTECH will continue to enjoy a top priority status.”

Since his investiture in 2013 as the 4th Chancellor of the Institution, crises have continued to loom; we keep seeing the broom of negative change as the wheels are revolving negatively. The school is not only faced with daunting challenges but gradually fading away.

As the National Leader of the All Pogressives Congress, and despite his influence, power, wealth, integrity, outstanding record in the society and his contribution in nation building, despair is what all LAUTECH students could get as a reward.

Some, who are now overdue for service have even spent more than 8 years for just a 5 year-program. It’s sad that none of these students will be competing for jobs with young graduates of other institutions.

A great philosopher once said; the world will not know peace until the power of love overcomes the love of power. The people at the helms of affairs no longer show concern. The issue of poor funding has affected a lot of things.

The Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola had hinted during his campaign that the possible solution to LAUTECH crises will be an outright increment on tuition fee. He specifically made reference to Osun State University in which their new intake or freshers paid nothing less than 200,000 Naira.

This has shown that a vote for APC in the two owners state “Oyo and Osun states” is tantamount to a vote for constant increment in school fees.

Similarly, the Oyo State gubernatorial candidate of the APC, Mr Bayo Adelabu also reportedly stated on a radio programme that, “tertiary institutions must be self- funded. And our government will ensure that if voted into power”.

Speaking further on Fresh FM in Ibadan last Saturday, Mr Adelabu said “the N1m per session the students of the Technical University Ibadan pays are nothing bad. “I cannot condemn the management that fixed the fees, “he said.

It would be recalled that virtually all tertiary institutions in both states except the federal owned are battling with one crisis or the other. It’s no gainsaying that the APC administration has no keen interest in education sector, most especially the ivory towers. This could be further confirmed recently when the national leader of APC, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited Ataoja Palace to unveil the candidate of his party, but dramatically said that he’s richer than the state. He further mentioned that the APC candidate who is now governor is richer than Osun State.

This dramatis personae is the incumbent Chancellor of our Alma mata, who couldn’t even lend a helping hand to a dying LAUTECH. History has it that the late Business mogul and philanthropist, Chief Kashimowo Moshood Abiola, who was the chancellor in 1991 gave LAUTECH a huge sum of 2 million Naira and 1 million Naira each to the then tertiary institutions in Nigeria. One can imagine the value of such humongous amount as at that time.

Today, one of the things we enjoy from that money is the 750 capacity lecture theatre, popularly called MKO, among other numerous project executed with the money.

Permit me to make reference to the chancellor of our sister university, Osun State University, Chief Mrs folorunsho Alakija who donated a whooping sum of 250 million for the construction of roads linking the university and equally donated an ultra-modern pediatrics hospital for the return of medical school that was abolished by the outgone administration led by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

May I also inform you that the newly pronounced Chancellor of Oyo State Technical university, Chief Tunde Afolabi has donated an edifice alongside other numerous projects for the newly established sister university in Oyo. This same person donated an ultra-modern hall that is worth about 200 million Naira to our dear Alma matter. The hall is situated at the back of LAUTECH Students’ Union building.

Will it be safe to conclude that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tunubu and his APC political cronies don’t have the LAUTECH love at heart ?

I weep!

Oyedeji Ahmed is an alumnus of LAUTECH. He can be reached via comradeahmad@yahoo.com