An Oyo State-based socio-political organisation,
the Oyo Kajola Group (OKG), has weighed in on the controversy between Oyo and
Osun States over the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in
Ogbomoso, saying the ‘needless drama being orchestrated by the government of
Osun State’ was unhelpful and condemnable.
The OKG in a statement by its media coordinator,
Adebayo Ayandele, said reports coming out of Osun State recently on the LAUTECH
issue show that the state was bent on running down the school for no just
cause.
According to the statement, “We are appalled by the
unhelpful and condemnable statistics that have been reeled out about LAUTECH by
the government of Osun State lately. The target of such unfounded statistics is
to bring the school to its knees and put the future of thousands of its
students in jeopardy, a situation akin to the biblical story of two women
fighting over a child.
“Of course, the real mother of the child would not
allow harm come the way of the child, though the impostor won’t mind if the
child got killed to prove a point. In this case, Oyo State, being the real
mother of the baby (LAUTECH) should take firm decisions to save the school from
impending crisis.
“In recent weeks, we have heard all manners of
half-truths and unfounded stories about payments made to LAUTECH by the
co-owners. Osun State, in particular, had released statements to the effect
that it has been paying far more than Oyo State in recent years.
“Our findings, however, indicate that Osun State
mixed facts with fiction in the statement it released recently. We have since
confirmed that the two owner states of LAUTECH have since separately taken ownership
of the two teaching hospitals. While Oyo State had taken control of the teaching
hospital in Ogbomoso, Osun State had taken ownership of the teaching hospital
in Osogbo.
“In effect, whatever Osun State spends on LAUTECH
Teaching Hospital, in Osogbo is its responsibility and should not be mentioned
as part of expenses meant for LAUTECH as an institution.
“We also read with surprise a claim by Osun State
to the effect that LAUTECH should by now be self-financed, since according to
that statement, the Osun State University established well after LAUTECH has
allegedly become financially independent.
“Let us place on record here that no university
around the world can be self-financed as such. The Secretary to the Osun State Government
whom the statement was credited to must have spoken with tongue in cheek just
in search of excuses to justify the contempt Osun State has for LAUTECH. We are
aware that top universities across the world survived on huge grants from
public-spirited individuals, governments and families to attain the status they
are now.
“LAUTECH is a school to be nurtured, and we must
bear in mind that education is not basically a profit-and-loss venture. Its
social impact is unquantifiable and as such, government subsidies are always of
good benefit.
“We want to use this medium to urge the Governor of
Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, to take immediate steps to save LAUTECH from the trap
of death which Osun State has set for it.
“Like the Oyo State governor has said, LAUTECH is
dear to Oyo State and to the people of Ogbomoso. Since Osun State has shown it
is only out to bleed the school to death, Oyo State should not hesitate to take
up the responsibility of paying the fees needed to run the school, while the
legal issues around ownership are practically sorted.
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