Osun Poly Campus Witnesses Drama as Two Rectors Resume Duty.

Osun Poly Campus Witnesses Drama as Two Rectors Resume Duty.

......Government Orders Closure and Freezes Institution’s Accounts.

The Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, found itself embroiled in a dramatic situation on Thursday as two individuals, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo and Mr. Kehinde Alabi, resumed their duties as Rectors of the institution, escalating the ongoing administrative crisis.

This turmoil has its roots in the suspension of Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo on July 11, 2023, by the state government, amid allegations of fund misappropriation. In his place, Mr. Kehinde Alabi was appointed as the Acting Rector, further deepening the rift within the institution.

However, Dr. Odetayo, determined to regain his position, took legal action. On August 21, 2023, he approached the Industrial Court with an order of interim injunction to restrain the state government from acting on his suspension and other related matters. Justice O. A Ogunbowale granted the order, halting any actions against Dr. Odetayo pending the resolution of the legal dispute.

The tension reached its peak on Thursday when both Dr. Odetayo and Mr. Alabi returned to the campus. Dr. Odetayo presented the court order to the Chief Security Officer, then proceeded to the Rector's office, escorted by a faction of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) that supported him.

Simultaneously, Mr. Alabi and his ASUP faction gathered in a hall within the campus. In a statement issued by Mr. Alabi, he urged students and staff to remain calm, assuring them that the government was working to restore peace to the campus.

In a surprising turn of events, the Osun State government announced the closure of the State Polytechnic, Iree, for a period of two weeks. Additionally, the government froze the institution's accounts with immediate effect. This decision came in response to the resumption of Dr. Odetayo, who had secured an interim injunction to suspend the execution of his suspension while his legal case unfolds.

The Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole, made this announcement through an official statement. The closure and account freeze signify the government's stance on the ongoing administrative discord and its commitment to resolving the matter comprehensively.

The Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, now stands at a crossroads, with a legal battle and government intervention looming large. The students and staff, caught in the midst of this crisis, can only hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to bring stability back to their educational institution.