The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the Senate, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru has denied reports that he was behind the cancellation of the selection process for appointment of new Vice Chancellor for the Lagos State University (LASU), reports The Gazelle News.com.
The lawmaker debunked the report via a statement released on his behalf on Sunday, 24 January, 2021.
Senator Abiru stated that a 10-minute video published on @baloguneko Instagram handle, one Abisoye Oyeyemi Oshodi alleged that he prevailed on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to cancel the process.
According to him, he was also alleged to have prevailed on the Governor to screen out Ikorodu indigenes because Ikorodu is only interested in the governorship seat and not the VC.
“All these claims were nothing, but mere figments of Mr. Oshodi’s imagination. They do not in any way represent the truth. I neither prevailed on Mr. Governor to cancel the process first initiated by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Committee to select LASU’s next VC nor ever influenced him to zone the position out of Ikorodu Division for any reason. As a matter of fact, I did not play any role in the whole process,” he said.
Below is the full statement from Senator Abiru:
My attention has been drawn to a viral video on the decision of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to cancel the process that the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU) initiated in synergy with the LASU Senate to select the next Vice Chancellor of the university.
In a 10-minute video published on @baloguneko Instagram handle, one Abisoye Oyeyemi Oshodi wrongfully alleged that I prevailed on Mr. Governor to cancel the first selection process of the next LASU VC. He also alleged that I told Mr. Governor to screen out indigenes of Ikorodu Division contesting for the vice chancellorship position of the university. He claimed that I gave this advice on the ground that Ikorodu Division was only interested in the governorship seat and not the VC position.
All these claims were nothing, but mere figments of Mr. Oshodi’s imagination. They do not in any way represent the truth. I neither prevailed on Mr. Governor to cancel the process first initiated by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Committee to select LASU’s next VC nor ever influenced him to zone the position out of Ikorodu Division for any reason. As a matter of fact, I did not play any role in the whole process.
For the purpose of record, I worked in public and private sectors for 32 years before I joined partisan politics. For this period, I was a promoter of good corporate governance hinged on competence, due process and transparency. Even though I am now in partisan politics, I still believe these values should be at the core of operations in all public or private institutions.
Coming from this background, I strongly believe the appointment of LASU VC, like other tertiary institutions nationwide, should be based on competence and due process. This is the position I have always held, especially in this era when we consciously look forward to our universities to lead the path to sustainable development in all facets of life.
Senator Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, FCA.
(“Tokunbo Abiru”)
Senator, Lagos East Senatorial District
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 24, 2021.