Indigenes of Ibadanland, Oyo State, under the aegis of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, have lamented what they described as the marginalisation of the ancient city in the appointment of the vice chancellor of University of Ibadan.
This is just as the group decried non-naming of railway stations located on Ibadan catchment area after prominent Ibadan indigenes as well as their non-appointment as minister or prominent political positions since the inception of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The President General, CCII, Chief Adeyemi Soladoye, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, on Sunday, said the people of Ibadanland were not happy that an indigene had not emerged as the Vice Chancellor of the country’s premier tertiary institution since its establishment in 1948,
He called on President Buhari and other stakeholders in the political and educational sectors in the country to ensure that the next vice chancellor of the institution which is due to succeed the incumbent vice chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, on December 1, 2020, comes from Ibadan.
Soladoye said it was unfortunate that the indigenes of the ancient city who were qualified for the position of vice chancellor had been marginalised since inception of the university, stating that the neglect was not for absence of qualified Ibadan indigenes within the University of Ibadan system or in the academic circle of Nigeria to occupy the coveted seat of the vice chancellor of the institution.
He said it was unfortunate that University of Ibadan is 72 years old and had produced 14 Nigerian vice chancellors between 1960 till date without an Ibadan man emerging a vice chancellor.
Soladoye said four indigenes of Ibadan contesting for the position of the vice chancellor of the institution at the moment were Professor Remi Raji-Oyelade, former Dean, Faculty of Arts and current Member, University of Ibadan Governing Council; Professor Kayode Adebowale, current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration); Professor Emiola Olapade-Olaopa, the immediate past Provost of the College of Medicine and Professor Kolapo Hamzat, current Head of Department of Physiotherapy.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that one out of the four indigenes be picked to succeed the current vice chancellor whose tenure will expire in November this year.
