Kunle Adelabu & Wale Jagun
Despite that it is less than a week to the end of the 5-year tenure of the current Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Mr Samuel Olayinka Sogunro, there are still much uncertainties regarding who takes over from him and what the state government intends to do when his term ends.
For several months, there have been so much politicking, petition writing and maneuvering as many interests within and outside the institution are doing everything to ensure that their own candidate takes over the soon to be vacant Rectorship position.
There were 25 candidates, both from within the LASPOTECH system and from other tertiary institutions, who applied to succeed the current Rector, Mr Sogunro whose five-year tenure will end on 30th of May.
But few days to the expiration of Sogunro’s tenure, both academic and non- academic staff unions of the institution, which have been at loggerhead with the management in the last four years, are yet to know the direction the government is going in replacing the current Rector.
The situation has given rise to many insinuations, rumours and permutations among staff and other interested parties.
THE IMPACT gathered that the current lockdown issued by the government to curtail the spread of COVID – 19 is a major factor in the delay of the appointment of a new Rector for the Polytechnic.
There is also the issue of the Visitation Panel that is still sitting to unravel the cause of the crisis that pitched the staff unions against the management of the institution and government for most part of the tenure of the current Rector.
Many of the staff members of Lagos Polytechnic are of the view that by now, the incoming Rector should have been picked and under studying the outgoing Rector, while some expressed fear that the Lagos State Government may not be disposed towards appointing a new Rector since the panel is yet to complete its job.
Those expressing this fear are of the view that it would not be proper for the new Rector to continue with the problems faced by the outgoing Rector without proffering ways to resolving them.
To this section of the institution, there is need for the current Rector to continue in the acting capacity or for a new person to take over from him in acting capacity pending the time the visitation panel would complete its job.
Another section of the institution and the host community are also of the view that there is need for the government to constitute the Governing Council for the Polytechnic before the appointment of a new Rector to prevent a repeat of what happened during the current administration.
They alleged that the immediate past Governing Council of the institution, led by Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, which was constituted after the appointment of Sogunro as Rector, became his stooge.
The tenure of the Governing Council expired last year and the state government is yet to constitute a new one since then.
But the three staff unions in the Polytechnic -Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP) and Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU), have kicked against the continuation of Sogunro or anybody in acting capacity.
In their letter to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, they alleged that the current Rector, whose regime is characterised by students harassment, hatred for staff members whom he considers unfriendly and penchant for diabolism, does not qualify to manage the school in the first instance.
They alleged that his emergence was due to the absence of a Governing Council in the first place and the external influences against the interest of the staff of the institution.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the state government has more pressing issues before it than the LASPOTECH matter. Among such challenges are the COVID-19 pandemic which has put public life on hold and how to gradually open up the state’s economy without complications.
It was gathered that opening of primary, secondary and higher institutions is not yet on the government’s table, hence whatever issue LAPSOTECH is facing would have to wait till when the government is ready to restart the educational system in the state.
Report Of Visitation Panel
The report of this panel setup by the current Governor to unravel many problems confronting the school, according to some sources, would determine the way forward for the government regarding LASPOTECH.
Reliable sources also told THE IMPACT that the report of the Panel is ready.
“Don’t stress yourself. Everything would be out in quick succession. Governing Council, Panel report, rector, etc. I shall inform you sir”, a source said.
We gathered from other reliable sources that the report won’t make much difference in favour of the unions. A major position by the union is to see Sogunro go but he will be completing his tenure by May 30, despite great effort by the union to have him dismissed earlier.
“They want CONTISS 15 Migration, Government just slashed LASPOTECH subvention by 33.3%. They want Governing Council, they will get it”, another source added.
It was also gathered that most of the decisions may favour political persecutions, reversal of wrongful punishments, increament of salary and promotions while some individuals would also be exonerated.
“What is going to be a major blow for the unions is that their cases are still in court and since the panel cannot reinstate ASUP and adjudicate over other union matters that are in court. In this wise, all the unions will have to withdraw their cases from Industrial court” a source added.
Meanwhile, major stakeholders within and outside the LASPOTECH system have started queuing behind different candidates for the plum job.
There are also interest from the government, political power houses and traditional institutions regarding who become the next Rector of the institution.
Against the Unions’ position, THE IMPACT gathered that the state government would any moment from now announce someone within the Polytechnic to act as Rector pending the time a substantive Rector would be appointed.
We can also authoritatively report that the announcement of the substantive Rector may take sometimes due to some of the factors enumerated at the beginning of this piece.
Reliable sources within the government circle and the Polytechnic host community informed THE IMPACT that the unions may protest and kick against whoever is picked by the government for the Rectorship seat, but it is the prerogative of the Visitor (Governor Sanwo-Olu) or the person representing him, to determine who manage the institution and in what capacity.
Candidates For Sogunro’s Job
Although, some news medium published a list described as the final shortlist by the Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE), it has, however, been disputed in some quarters as a list emanating from the government going by the issues raised above.
To some of the staff of the institution, the list is authentic. Whatever the case is, many of the said shortlisted candidates are major contenders for the position.
THE IMPACT in this piece did a brief analysis of the seven candidates allegedly shortlisted by the state government from the initial 25 that applied for the LASPOTECH Rectorship position and others.
The seven candidates, according to report making the rounds, scaled the hurdles of requirements as stipulated in the advertisement for the job.
However, those that believe in the authenticity of the shortlisted listed are alleging that some of the candidates that applied for the job and possess the required credentials were deliberately excluded from the final list.
It was also alleged that some of those that have been allegedly shortlisted do not possess the required academic and managerial qualifications for the Rectorship position.
Four of the allegedly shortlisted candidates are from the LASPOTECH system, while the other three are among the 18 candidates that applied for the job from other institutions.
The four candidates from the institution’s system are Mr Olumide Metilelu, the current Deputy Rector (Academics) and staff of the Department of Hospitality, School of Technology, Dr. Kolawole Godonu, Department of Agriculture), a former Dean and the current Chaplain of LASPOTECH Christian Fellowship, Dr Nuruden Olaleye, Head of Department, Science and Laboratory Technology, and Dr. Taofeek Arowolo, the Director, Research & Development of the institution from School of Pure and Applied Science, while the three from other institutions are Dr. Akinwunmi Apena from Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Aiyeola from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and Dr. (Mrs.) Olabisi Yusuf, Associate Professor from the Lagos State University.
From all indications, candidates from within the system are most favoured to emerge as the next Rector (either substantive or in acting capacity) as a large number of the staff of the institution are still favourably disposed to the choice of someone within the system to clinch the position despite the internal crisis they have faced under the current Rector who was also picked for job within the system.
But the three staff unions, in their letter to the Governor, are also opposed to the candidature of Mr Olumide Metilelu and Senayon Nurudeen. Mr Metilelu is among the rumored seven candidates shortlisted for the job.
They alleged that the two men are part of the maladministration of the outgoing Rector and as a result, they did not expect them to scale the screening exercise, let alone to be shortlisted among the approved candidates for the job.
Metilelu, THE IMPACT gathered, is the only candidate from Ikorodu Division, the host community of the institution which has been alleging marginalization in the appointment to key positions in the institution.
The outgoing Deputy Rector, who is said to be maternally related to Imota Local Council Development Area of the Division, is said to be enjoying the backing of the Ranodu of Imota, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mudashiru Ajibade Agoro for the position.
We also gathered that other Obas and stakeholders in Ikorodu Division are also supporting his candidature for the top position.
Metilelu is a former student of LASPOTECH who is favoured by the alumnus of the institution to emerge as the Rector. Some see this as a very big advantage couple with his incumbency power.
Even though he is being seen as one of the arrowhead of Sogunro’s cabinet, he has been described by many as a great talker who is well in tune with LASPOTECH system.
He is also been seen by some as someone that can help the institution sustains its academic standard and infrastructural development efforts and can even better the situation. To his set of people, Metilelu has listening ears and sure to practice open – door policy if given the chance.
Metilelu is also seen by some as a candidate that would want to leave his mark on the institution being an indigene of Ikorodu with major stakeholders in the division available to call him to order.
Despite the alignment and re-alignment, many still see him as the best positioned candidate,
In the case of Dr Kolawole Godonu, rumour has it that he is a friend of the governor and that he attended the same school with him.
To some staff, Godonu is seen as the candidate of the governor who, according to report, is doing everything to restore sanity back to the Polytechnic system and as a result, needs a trusted and disciplined person to achieve this task.
Dr Godonu is described as a good administrator whose candidature is said to be enjoying the backing of a good number of staff of the institution.
Some staff of the institution also described him as man of the people who understands the terrain better than anyone.
Some powerful forces within the LASPOTECH system are also said to be pushing for Dr Godonu’s emergence because they see him as a candidate with the needed capacity to bring back unity and purposeful direction to the institution.
THE IMPACT also gathered that Dr Nurudeen Olaleye, who is the choice of the leadership of the three staff unions in the institution, is enjoying the backing of the Minister of Interior and former Governor of State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Olaleye is the Head of Department, Biological Science in School of Pure and Applied Science, LASPOTECH.
It was gathered that the amiable academic is also politically strong in Alimosho and he was one of those that led Governor Sanwo-Olu ‘s campaign in the area which has the highest voting population in Lagos.
THE IMPACT further gathered that the leadership of the three unions are backing Dr Olaleye because he seems not to belong to any of the parties enmeshed in the polytechnic’s crisis.
Many members of the of unions were equally said to have attested to Dr Olaleye’s accessibility, while the Muslim community in the Polytechnic are also reportedly backing him for the position.
In the case of Dr Taofeek Arowolo, he is alleged to be one of the Sogunro’s boys.
Arowolo was the former ASUP chairman and currently the Director, Research, Innovation and Development in LASPOTECH.
He is said to be in the bad books of the three unions due to report which indicted him by ASUP for financial impropriety and they are equally opposed to his emergence as Rector, but he is not without his own support base within and outside the system.
Among the three candidates that are allegedly shortlisted from outside the Polytechnic, Dr Akinwunmi Apena, from the Faculty of Science, is also said to be enjoying support from some stakeholders within the Polytechnic.
His candidature is reportedly being canvassed by some staff members of the institution who believe that the institution needs a break from its current situation. To them, somebody who is not part of the system would provide effective leadership that would unify the institution.
Some members of the institution’s alumni association are also said to be in the forefront of pushing for his candidature.
His supporters described him as being meticulous and understands the workings of the Polytechnic.
THE IMPACT gathered that he is a major candidate considering factors that led to his decision to contest for the position which is not even known to any of those supporting his candidature.
On the other hand, Dr. (Mrs.) Olabisi Yusuf, an Associate Professor from the Lagos State University, is also reported to be having support from some Obas and notable indigenes in Ikorodu division and outside.
Associate Professor Yusuf who is a lecturer in Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University. She is said to be from the popular Anibaba’s family in Ikorodu, but not known to many.
It was gathered that she has just got appointed as the Deputy Director of the Lagos State University Directorate of Advancement (LASUDA).
On the other hand, a section of the institution, with very significant number of major stakeholders, has argued that whatever qualifies those that were picked from LASPOTECH also qualifies others that were not selected, hence they opined that the list may not be right.
Some of the staff contesting the list are of the opinion that a former Deputy Rector of the school, Senayon is well qualified for the position.
“In fact, in the hierarchy of Chief Lecturership, Senanyon is above Metilelu, Olaleye and Arowolo”, one of the sources said.
“Senanyon was a Deputy Rector (Academics) and also contested against Sogunro as Rector”, he added.
However, the intrigue, politics and arm twisting going on in LASPOTECH is much more complex than what people are seeing. The alignment and realignment of forces that are going on are not basically on principles but mainly due to interests according to many stakeholders that spoke with THE IMPACT.
It is also important to note that all is not well with the unions as SSANIP is the only one among the three unions that is stable with little or no problems confronting it except that the union is also focusing on seeing the exit of Sogunro.
THE IMPACT gathered that virtually all the candidates allegedly picked from LASPOTECH and others managed the institution with Sogunro and approved of all what his administration did.
Unions have also written petition against some of them on the allegation that they collected TETFund grants without executing the proposed research.
Another source who did an overview on the institution’s politicking said: “People could be aligning and realigning for selfish interest and survival purpose, but the facts are naked”.
It was also gathered that a particular candidate was accused of stealing N68m belonging to ASUP. He was tried by the ASUP committee, found guilty but no punishment was issued to him as he was and still being protected by the power that be in LASPOTECH.
Though, TETFund exonerated all the people that were accused by the unions, some are still of the stance that that’s not enough to say the accused are not guilty.
In all these, the Students’ Union and other students’ movements are docile, uninformed and lack the needed capacity to even understand that students are also major stakeholders in who becomes the next Rector of the institution.
They are staying far away from the issue even though some of them are actually supporting some of the candidates underground.
The host community, except for few Obas and politicians, are also viewing the institution like a plague that must not be touched.
Many are reportedly refusing to identify with the institution because of their experience with the outgoing Rector, which they described as unpalatable.
In the coming days, more intrigues and politicking are expected to unfold, particularly as it regards the Rectorship of the Polytechnic.
