Osun State – The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to halt what it describes as an “Edenisation agenda” at the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, in Obokun Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that Governor Adeleke has hastily appointed Sefiu Adebowale Adewumi, a Deputy Rector from Ede, allegedly in preparation to install him as the institution’s substantive Rector upon the retirement of the current Rector on May 20, 2025.
According to findings, Adewumi’s primary qualification for the role appears to be his family ties—he is the governor’s nephew, a cousin to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and an elder brother to the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Kazeem Akinleye.
Disregard for Due Process
The APC highlighted that four months before the retirement of the current Rector, Dr. Samson Adegoke, the institution’s Governing Council had already initiated the recruitment process for a new Rector. An advertisement was published in The Punch newspaper on February 3, 2025, following communication and apparent approval from the governor.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. M.A.K. Jimoh, who is also a cousin to Adewumi, allegedly ordered the school’s Registrar, Mr. Popoola, to halt the selection process—seemingly to ensure that Adewumi automatically assumes the position upon the current Rector’s exit.
Political Interference and Intimidation
Investigations within the institution reveal that more qualified candidates—including former Deputy Rectors, Deans, Directors, and Heads of Departments—are allegedly being pressured not to apply for the position, creating a path for Adewumi’s unchallenged appointment.
This pattern, the APC asserts, mirrors the controversial appointment of an Ede-born Rector at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, where a less-qualified candidate was allegedly imposed in a manner that displaced the substantive Rector, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, a native of Ode-Omu.
Violation of College Regulations
The party reminded Governor Adeleke that his actions contradict the Edict establishing the Osun State College of Technology, which mandates the Governing Council to recommend three qualified Chief Lecturers for the Governor to select from after proper screening. Instead, the established legal framework has reportedly been disregarded to facilitate an act of favoritism.
Furthermore, the APC dismissed the government’s claim that the immediate past Deputy Rector, Mrs. Kehinde Ijirona, an Esa-Oke native, was removed because she was a lecturer in the General Studies Department—an alleged violation of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) regulations. The party pointed out that the Ede-born Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, also had a General Studies background, yet the rule was conveniently overlooked in his case.
A Trend of Nepotism
The APC accused Governor Adeleke of running state institutions as personal family estates, citing multiple cases of favoritism:
The appointment of an Ede-born Rector at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, despite lacking the highest qualifications.
The appointment of Prof. Femi Asaolu as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, who, while claiming Ilesa nativity, was allegedly born and raised in Ede.
The appointment of the Bursar of the University of Ilesa, who also hails from Ede.
APC’s Demand for Fairness
The Osun APC insists that the Osun State College of Technology belongs to all indigenes of Osun State and should not be treated as an extension of the Adeleke family’s personal holdings.
The party, therefore, demands that Governor Adeleke lift the ban on the rectorship recruitment process and ensure a free, fair, and transparent selection process where all qualified candidates can compete on merit.
By Damilola Adeleke | March 20, 2025
Adeleke Damilola (ACTION) is a versatile content writer with expertise in news writing and a seasoned media professional and broadcast specialist. Currently serving as News Editor for DNews Info, Damilola is also the CEO of the ACTION brand, committed to shaping lives and establishing a legacy of excellence for present and future generations.
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