Why Tinubu Removed Oyetola’s Loyalists As Education Board Members

FRESH facts have emerged on why some loyalists of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, were removed from the list of chairmen and members of the Governing Councils of federal tertiary institutions, constituted by President Bola Tinubu.

President Tinubu had on May 18, 2024, approved the appointment of members to the boards of the Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education, but later withdrew it, following heavy protests from states.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that Tinubu decided to hand in the appointment decision for the Osun nominees to a former National Chairman of the APC and a close ally, Chief Adebisi Akande when he intervened.

On the new list, a total of 11 indigenes of Osun, who were exclusively nominated by Oyetola, were removed, while new nominees emerged, which are names recommended by Akande and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ajibola Basiru.

OSUN DEFENDER had, in its June 21 edition, reported how some loyalists of the Minister, including former Speaker, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, 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, became missing on the new emerging list. 

READ: Governing Council, Osun Community End Rift Over Alleged Plan To Move Departments 

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, and all indigenes of Ede earlier appointed in the first list, did not make the reviewed list. 

The council chairmen nominated and appointed through Akande’s influence are his personal appointment as the Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan; that of former deputy governor of the state, Mrs. Titi-Laoye Ponnle (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Kano, Kano State); the appointment of Dr. Obawale Adebisi (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State); and that of Prof. Taiwo Akanbi Olaiya (Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ede).

Membership appointments traceable to his (Akande’s) influence 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, Nsukka), 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.

These developments, further findings revealed, are part of the efforts by some leaders of the APC in the state to technically strip the leadership of the party off Mr. Oyetola.

According to sources, the distribution of gifts for the recent Eid-el-Kabir festival was coordinated by the elder statesman from his Ila-Orangun country home, and not the APC State Secretariat or the IleriOluwa campaign office in Osogbo.

Feelers also indicated that some members of the party, who are disenchanted with Oyetola’s leadership style may exit the party any moment from now.