An aggrieved
aspirant to Ado-Ekiti Government House in 2018, Professor Dayo Adeyeye,
yesterday resigned as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the Ekiti
State
University (EKSU).
This follows
the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) adoption of the
Deputy Governor, Professor Kolapo Olusola, as the preferred candidate of the
party ahead of the 2018 governorship election.
Loyalists to
Governor Ayodele Fayose had adopted Olusola, a professor of Building Technology
from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, thereby dimming
the chances of Adeyeye, Biodun Olujimi and Dare Bejide, among others.
Adeyeye, who
is the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, confirmed his resignation on
the telephone, saying that he had sent his resignation letter to Fayose but did
not disclose reasons for his action.
A source
close to Adeyeye said his action was to preempt Fayose, who he feared, may sack
him over the controversy surrounding Olusola’s emergence as the party’s
governorship candidate for the 2018 election.
When
contacted, Special Assistant to Fayose on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka,
said only the university’s management could react to the development.
“When a
pro-chancellor is appointed, he is responsible to the institution, because the
university is autonomous, so we can’t comment on his action,” he said.
Reacting to
Olusola’s adoption, Adeyeye and Bejide had branded Fayose’s action as
constitutional infraction, saying such illegal action would not stand.
Meanwhile,
the Ekiti State Government yesterday said it has accepted Adeyeye’s
resignation.
A statement
by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Modupe Alade, the government
thanked Adeyeye for his service to the university and wished him well in his
future endeavours..
It added
that Fayose has approved the appointment of Dele Adesina (SAN) as the new
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s governing council.
Guardian
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