A community interest group, the Oyo Global Forum, OGF, has tasked the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the board of the Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, to appoint qualified indigenes of the town to fill the remaining principal officers in the institution.
The Forum also condemned what it described as the marginalisation of Oyo Zone during the selection process for principal officers at the university which is located in Oyo town.
OGF, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, and authorised by its Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Adebayo on Thursday, said the entire zone was saddened by the deliberate exclusion of Oyo candidates, especially when other institutions in Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan have their management teams substantially controlled by their respective indigenes.
“The Oyo Global Forum has strongly condemned any attempt to marginalize the Oyo Zone during the selection process for principal officers at Emmanuel Alayande University of Education.
“The entire Oyo Zone community is saddened by the deliberate exclusion of Oyo candidates, especially when other institutions in Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, and Ibadan have their management teams substantially controlled by their respective indigenes. This discrepancy underscores the urgent need for corrective action,” Adebayo said.
He noted that the case of Oyo should not be viewed as an ordinary circumstance but rather, as an exception that demands rectification.
The OGF then called on Governor Makinde and the Governing Council of the institution to rectify the alleged imbalance by filling the unfilled positions of bursar and registrar with qualified indigenes of the town.
“We call upon His Excellency and the Governing Council to recognize and rectify this imbalance by ensuring that the remaining unfilled positions of Bursar and Registrar are filled by qualified Oyo indigenes among the shortlisted candidates.
“Upholding principles of fairness and inclusion is essential to fostering a university environment that values diversity and respects the aspirations of all communities.
“Let this be a testament to our collective commitment to justice and equity in educational institutions across our state,” Adebayo said.
