UNILORIN STAKEHOLDERS FORUM REJECT THE CHOICE OF DR JIBRIL OYEKAN AS NEW CHAIRMAN OF UNILORIN GOVERNING COUNCIL
The attention of the Stakeholders Forum of the University of Ilorin has been drawn to the appointment of Dr Jibril Oyekan as new Chairman of University of Ilorin Governing Council. We wish to state categorically that the appointment is inappropriate and is unfair to the various parties in the crisis situation in the University of Ilorin. Everybody is aware of UNILORIN CRISIS which has been prominent nationally for some time.

For the avoidance of doubt, from our observation, Dr Jibril Oyekan as a person is a man of integrity as a person. He has served the nation in several capacities, e.g. as Director in the Department of Petroleum Resources, in the Air Force Affairs Department, Ministry of Defence, as Secretary of Finance, Federal Ministry of Education and as Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. He is also a respected member of the Muslim Ummah, particularly in the South West. We do not have problems with him as a person.

However, Dr Oyekan has also been a personal friend and associate to Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. Prof. Oloyede is the immediate past VC of the University of Ilorin and currently Registrar of JAMB. His continuing role in the University of Ilorin crisis is well known. In the past few years, even in the past few weeks, there have been several allegations of misdemeanour against Prof Oloyede and the current Administration of Unilorin which is widely believed to have been installed by Prof Oloyede. We therefore foresee a serious conflict of interest in the appointment of Dr Oyekan, as a personal friend and associate of Prof. Oloyede, and as the Chairman of the Governing Council of UNILORIN that is supposed to adjudicate in matters concerning Prof Oloyede and his surrogate administration in UNILORIN. 

Dr Jibril Oyekan and Prof Oloyede have been associates since the 70s. They were active together in MSS (now MSSN - Muslim Students Society of Nigeria). As academics they were co-contributors to journals and books (see especially Islamic Perspectives on Contemporary Issues ed. by MO Junaid 1999).They are active together in the NSCIA (Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs) and they are close together as leaders of MUSWEN (Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria) (see report and pictures http://thenationonlineng.net/muswens-visit-to-markaz/). They have a very strong bond. 
Because of this close relationship with Prof. Oloyede, it cannot be reasonably expected that Dr. Jibril Oyekan will be able to perform his duties freely as Chairman of Governing Council of Unilorin where Professor Oloyede is principally and institutionally involved in conflicts and crisis. Whatever Dr Oyekan does (or does not do) in that position will always be seen from the prism of this relationship. It is really unfair on the part of the Minister of Education to saddle the respected Dr Oyekan with such a moral burden. 

The appointment shows insensitivity on the part of the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu who is also close to Oloyede. He is aware of the entanglement of Oloyede in Unilorin affairs and conflicts, and he is also aware of the relationship between Prof Oloyede and Dr Oyekan. In the past nobody with such personal ties to a key personality in the conflict and affairs of the University has been appointed as Chairman of Council. 
The last Chairman of Council of UNILORIN, Prof Okonjo, was held hostage by Oloyede and his surrogate UNILORIN management because of his disability. Okonjo was an 89 year old man who has had stroke more than once, who could not stand or walk without being physically propped up, who had become hard of hearing and slept through meetings. In fact ASUU protested Okonjo’s appointment because of his disability. 
In this case, Dr Oyekan is not physically disabled, but he will definitely suffer from a serious moral burden and dilemma if he is retained as Chairman of UNILORIN Governing Council. 

UNILORIN Stakeholders Forum has joined issues with Prof. Oloyede in the past. We know him and he knows us. We call on Dr Oyekan not to get embroiled in the messy Oloyede affair in the University of Ilorin. He should recuse himself from the Chairmanship of UNILORIN Governing Council The Minister of Education should immediately redeploy him to another Governing Council.

                                                                                                                                       Dr. Alabi Soyode
                                                                                                                                     Publicity Secretary

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