Drama at Osun poly campus as two Rectors resume duty

At the Osun State Polytechnic in Iree, there was some minor drama on Thursday as two rectors resume work  again.

Following Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo’s suspension on July 11, 2023, by the state government over allegations of fund misappropriation, and the appointment of Mr. Kehinde Alabi as acting rector, the institution had recently been in crisis.

However, on August 21, 2023, Odetayo approached the Industrial Court with an order of interim injunction prohibiting the defendants/respondents, their servants, privies, employees, or however else described from putting into effect the letter of suspension dated July 11, 2023, and letter of inquiry dated August 1, 2023 given to the claimant/applicant herein, or in any other way interfering with the claimant/applicant’s position as the Rector of.

Attorney General O. The Lagos judge who oversaw the case, A Ogunbowale, granted the claimant’s request for an order and restrained the state government and its representative from taking any further action until the lawsuit’s outcome was known.

However, on Thursday, Alabi and Odetayo both returned to their roles as rector of the school, with Alabi’s supporters congregating in a hall while Odetayo and some staff members supporting him resumed at the rector’s office.

Upon arriving on campus, Odetayo showed a court order to the chief security officer before going to the office while being escorted by a group from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, or ASUP, at the institution.

A short while later, Alabi and his ASUP group arrived at the school and gathered inside a campus hall.

Tope Abiola urged students and staff to maintain their composure as the government took the necessary steps to ensure peace returned to the campus in a statement he personally issued and made available to newsmen.

“I beg you to keep your composure and carry on with your normal duties without any protest”, he said.