Osun May Discontinue Joint Ownership Of LAUTECH

• Dissolution of Joint Ownership In Process – Oyo Govt
• We’re Ready To Let Go If Conditions Are Favourable to Us – Osun Govt

By Ismaeel Uthman

There are indications that the joint ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso might be dissolved by both Osun and Oyo state governments in few months to come.

The process of discontinuing the joint ownership of the institution is ongoing between Osun and Oyo state governments, according to investigations by OSUN DEFENDER.

A framework to look at LAUTECH holistically with regard to the joint ownership, continuation of joint ownership and the severance of joint ownership has been set in motion by the governments of the two states.

This is just as the Osun Government declared that it was ready to let go of the institution, if the terms and conditions presented are favourable, with a stance that it would not allow itself to be arm-twisted or shortchanged in the discontinuation process.

Oyo State Government had for over two decades been making efforts to force Osun out of the joint ownership of LAUTECH and take sole possession of the institution.

The state’s taking sole ownership of the institution formed an integral part of campaign promises rolled out by Governor Seyi Makinde during the election process that brought him into office.

LAUTECH was originally established on April 23, 1990 as Oyo State University of Technology, but creation of Osun from Oyo in August 1991 led to the change of the institution’s name to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, with the two states having joint ownership over it.

While the ownership crisis was averagely and maturely managed during the progressives’ governments in both Osun and Oyo states, it has always been a different ball game when the governors of both states are not from the same political party.

Oyo Government and Ogbomoso, the hosting community of the institution in particular have not for once ceased from mounting pressures on Osun to withdraw from LAUTECH’s joint ownership through some legitimate actions and sometimes blackmails and manipulations.

However, the ownership crisis might be put to an end in no distant time, if the ongoing discussions between the two owner-states are successful.

Dissolution of Joint Ownership In Process – Oyo Govt

Oyo State Government had last week disclosed that the dissolution of the joint ownership of LAUTECH was almost done.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Mr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye stated this last Friday while receiving a delegation from the Ladoke Akintola Foundation in his office.

Olaleye reportedly said: “The process of the dissolution of the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology is in its concluding stage.”

This is coming eight months after the inauguration of five-man committee set up by Governor Seyi Makinde to come up with concrete steps to help terminate the joint ownership of LAUTECH with Osun.

Makinde said Oyo State bore no grudge against Osun over the situation in the institution, but noted that it was obvious that the joint ownership of the institution by the two states could no longer work.

-We’re Ready To Let Go If Conditions Are Favourable to Us – Osun Govt

However, State Government of Osun has said that it would discontinue the LAUTECH joint ownership if a mutual consensus is reached with the Oyo State Government.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Hon Folorunso Oladoyin in an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday disclosed that discussions were ongoing between the owner-states where issues of ownership and the future of the ivory tower were being raised.

According to Oladoyin, the State of Osun would cease as joint owner of the citadel of learning when Oyo State agrees to its terms and conditions.

He said: “We have been on the joint ownership crisis of LAUTECH for long. It became pronounced in 2010. We continued to manage the crisis and it was possible because Oyo and Osun were being ruled by governors of the same political party. Now, Governor Seyi Makinde said he does not want us again. Can you force yourself on somebody who does not want you? Is it possible?

“We appealed to him to let us continue together and he said no. Oyo has over 90 percent of the University on its soil and they say they do not want us anymore, and sometimes possessions can be stronger than ownership, even in Law.

“The National Universities Commission (NUC) came in to mediate, but Oyo insisted it does not want us anymore. And we said if you don’t want us again, put your terms and conditions on the table. If they are in tandem with ours, then we would agree to walk away.

“If it is not acceptable, we will tell them. It is a 29-year old investment. If the two of us put our conditions on the table, then we can come to a conclusion. If we cannot come to a conclusion and there is need to go to an arbiter, so be it.”

Oladoyin further stated: “It is an elementary principle of law about a willing partner and an unwilling one. What Oyo has so far been doing is that of an unwilling partner. They have put on the framework to look into everything. Let them put their terms and conditions on the table, if it is acceptable to us, we would gladly walk away.

“But bear it in mind that we will not throw away a 29-year-investment just like that. The terms and conditions for separation must be mutually accepted. We will not be arm-twisted and we will not be shortchanged.

“The terms of separation must be fully accepted by both sides. Nobody will push us out, nobody will kick us out. If we must leave at all, it must be on terms and conditions that are mutually acceptable.”

When asked what Osun stands to gain in dissolving the LAUTECH joint ownership, Oladoyin said: “We have been holding series of meetings. It is premature to tell the press what we stand to gain if the separation is finally agreed. We are not doing anything in secrecy.

“Whenever we conclude, we would let the public know what we have done and what Osun is benefitting from the process. Nothing is being done in secret. All I can tell you is that the process to look at LAUTECH holistically is ongoing. We have set up a framework to look at LAUTECH, the Joint ownership, continuation of joint ownership and the severance of joint ownership. We will look at the two and weigh them. Whichever is in our best interest, we will adopt.”

It would be recalled that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi had stated a while ago that the joint ownership of LAUTECH could not work, calling on the two states to put an end to the joint ownership of the institution.

According to Oba Adeyemi, the joint ownership of LAUTECH is the source of persistent crises rocking the university, adding that the issue over the years had undermined the progress of the institution.

The traditional ruler stated that the differences in political parties, ideologies and policies of both states will not allow the two state governors to agree on some issues that affect the university.

He said: “Two states cannot manage one university successfully. Even when they are from the same political party, they will have different policies.

“The education policies introduced by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola have been cancelled by Oyetola. So, there is no way the two states can manage the university successfully”.

He urged Governors Oyetola and Seyi Makinde of Osun and Oyo states to consider ceding the university to either of them and end the joint ownership agreement in the interest of the students and the general public.