Nationnewslead reports that The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, has expressed disagreement with the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on the proposal to turn the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso into a multi-campus institution.
The Vice-Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Capt. Adejumo Ajao (retd), also called on the governor to rescind his decision on the move.
The National Universities Commission recently ceded the university to Oyo State.
After this, Makimde hinted last Monday the intention of his administration to turn the university to multi-campus but Oba Oyewumi, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan rejected this proposal.
The monarch, who spoke to our correspondent through his Private Secretary, Mr Toyin Ajamu, said such a move would be a disservice to the people of the town and its economy.
He said, “Kabiyesi disagrees with the proposal of the governor to turn LAUTECH to a multi-campus institution. He was one of the stakeholders who fought for the establishment of the university then and that was not part of the proposal for the university.
“There are other institutions owned by Oyo State which are not multi-campus. So why should LAUTECH be the only one? Kabiyesi is not happy about this. Those institutions in other towns are not shared with other towns. This is not the position of Kabiyesi alone, it is the position of the entire Ogbomoso people.”
The lawmaker, who represents Ogbomoso North, South, and Orire Federal Constituency, said taking some faculties away from Ogbomoso would be tantamount to hatred because there were institutions in other towns which were not shared with other regions.
The lawmaker said this in a statement by his Director of Media, Strategy, and Publicity, Mr Olusola Olayanju.
Ajao said, “I will like to refresh the memory of Governor Seyi Makinde led administration that each of the zones in the state has one or more state institutions(Oyo had EACOED, Ibarapa with College of Agriculture Igboora, OkeOgun with Polytechnic at Eruwa and Saki, while Ibadan has Technical University) without any campus in Ogbomoso. It will be tantamount to hatred if the decision to turn LAUTECH into a multi-campus institution sees the light of the day.
“Though making LAUTECH a multi-campus institution has it advantage, but the adverse effects are numerous, so, I call on His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde to critically access the situation and rescind his decision on the move.”
