Owoeye, Prof. Alabi, Layoonu, Giwa, Others Removed From Edu. Board Appointment List

The immediate-past Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye has been removed from the reviewed list of politicians and academics appointed into the Governing Councils of Federal Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.

Owoeye had in the first list released on May 18, 2024, been appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council, Federal College of Education, (Special), Oyo, Oyo State.

A total of 22 indigenes of Osun, the majority of whom are loyalists of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, made the first list.

However, President Tinubu ordered a review of the appointment following an outcry from some states.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that in the reviewed list, a total of 11 indigenes of the state were removed and replaced.

READ: Osun 2026: APC Members Go Spiritual For Oyetola

Aside from Owoeye, some other loyalists of Oyetola who did not make the second list are a governorship aspirant in the 2018 gubernatorial election, Dr. Saka Layoonu (SAN), a former member of the House of Representatives, Prof. Mojeed Alabi and a former Chief Whip of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Olatunji. 

Others are the former commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Alhaja Lateefat Giwa, ex-Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Jamiu Olawumi, former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Federal Matters, Mr. Lukman Bello, Bade Falade, and Mr. Nasir Olateju. 

Also, a Professor of History, Siyan Oyeweso, Prof. Sola Ajala, Yusuf Alli, and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ayo Afolabi who had been appointed as members of the Governing Council of the University of Jos, did not make the reviewed list. 

OSUN DEFENDER noted that all indigenes of Ede who had been appointed in the first list were removed and replaced with other persons. 

Leading the reviewed list from Osun is the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrosheed Olabomi (Chairman, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State). 

Oba Olabomi was at the first appointment chosen as the Chairman of the Governing Council, Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo, Ondo State. 

Other council chairmen in the reviewed appointment are former National Chairman of the APC, Chief Adebisi Akande (Chairman, University of Ibadan), former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Titi-Laoye Ponnle (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Kano, Kano State), Dr. Obawale Adebisi (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State), Prof. Taiwo Akanbi Olaiya (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ede).

READ: Osun APC, PDP Trade Words Over Bid To Woo Transport Unions

The medium noted that 11 fresh people, including Akande, Ponle, and Olaiya were injected into the reviewed list. 

They are: Dr Abdulrauf Adeniji (member, Alex Ekweme University, Udufu Alike, Ebonyi State), Pastor Timothy Ademola (member, Federal University of Technology, Minna), Hon Adegboyega Basheer (member Federal University, Lokoja), Chief Niyi Akande (member, University of Nigeria, Nsuka), Barr. Kayode Adebiyi (member, University of Calabar, Cross  Rivers State), Prof. A.O Atoyebi (member, Federal University of Sciences, Ila Orangun, Engr. Rafiu Adekilekun Mumini (member, Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo, Gombe State) and Prof. Gbadebo Anthony Olagunju, member Federal Poly Ede.