Gbenro Adesina
The Senate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s Premier University, on Thursday, October 8, 2020, met in a bid to amicably resolve the issues that arose from the recent election of the two Senate Representatives on the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the appointment of the institution’s 13th Vice Chancellor.
It would be recalled that two out of the nine candidates that contested in the election held on September 21, 2020, had written petitions to the University Council objecting the process and outcome of the election.
The petitioners are the immediate past Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Ademola DaSylva of the Department of English and Professor Adesoji Fasanmade of the Department of Physiology.
According to a special release, signed by the University’s Registrar and Secretary to Senate, Olubunmi O. Faluyi, 301 members of the Senate attended the meeting and deliberated extensively on all the issues raised in the two petitions and the responses of those who were alleged in the petitions.
The release read in part:
“This is to inform the University community and stakeholders that there was an emergency meeting of Senate of the institution over the alleged discrepancies in the recent election of the two Senate Representatives on the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the Appointment of the New Vice–Chancellor.
“The all-important meeting which was held at the instance of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Nde Joshua Waklek Mutka, mni, had 301 members of Senate in attendance.
“The Chairman of Council had directed Senate to examine the petitions of Prof. A.O.Dasylva, Dept. of English, Faculty of Arts and Prof. A. A Fasanmade, Dept. of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, who lost in the election.
“The meeting deliberated extensively on all the issues raised in the two petitions and the responses of those who were alleged in the petitions, namely Prof. Francis Offor, Prof. Abiodun Ayodele, Prof. Deji Omole, Prof. Ayodeji Ogunjuyigbe and Mrs. Morenike Afolabi, with proof of their innocence.
“In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, FAS, appealed to members to consider the meeting as a family gathering with optimism of amicable resolution of all matters.
“It is noteworthy that the meeting was frank, honest, transparent and in an atmosphere of civility.
“The resolutions of the meeting have been forwarded to Council for consideration.
“Members of the University are hereby enjoined to be peaceful and law-abiding in anticipation of amicable resolution of the matters by Council.
“Thank you for your understanding and co-operation”.
Though the decisions taken at the meeting were not divulged, it is expected that the Council would have been briefed of its outcome in order to forge a way forward.
The tenure of the 12th Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, ends at the end of November, 2020, and it is hoped that the process for the selection of the new VC would be completed by then.
