Osun Is Responsible for LAUTECH’s Crisis– Ogbomosho Parapo

By Lukman Ayelabola

Just as it seems the arrowheads in the crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), are getting tired and making peace, the Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide, has come down heavily on Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.

The Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide accused Aregbesola of being responsible for the LAUTECH crisis, saying that the inability of the governor to pay subventions to the university gave room for the impasse.

Chairman of the Ogbomoso Parapo Worldwide Home branch comprising the five local government areas in Ogbomoso zone, Hon. Saka Bello, stated this while featuring on a radio programmme in Osogbo, on Friday.

But in a swift reaction, the Director, Bureau of Publicity and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Osun State, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said that the state had not abdicated its financial responsibility to the institution

The Ogbomoso Parapo had issued a seven-day ultimatum to LAUTECH staff from Osun to vacate the instituiton or face severe consequences.

Speaking on a radio programme in Osogbo, the chairman of the Ogbomosho indigenes, said the association took the step due to the inability Aregbesola of Osun state to pay subventions to the institution.

While Osun is said to be owing the university 14 months subvention, Oyo is owing her eight months.

Bello said, “We asked them (Osun indigenes) to vacate LAUTECH and return to Osun and let their governor know that they are suffering. How will they remain in Ogbomoso in hunger? Let them (Osun indigenes) return home and protest against their government.

“Salaries are not being paid to the workers and that’s why they are on strike. Students are now bearing the brunts by remaining at home in idleness. Oyo State government has paid N491 million but Osun did not pay anything. That is the reason we asked Osun indigenes to vacate LAUTECH because we are no longer interested in joint ownership.

“Before we issued the ultimatum to Osun workers, we had met the Oyo governor and he had paid three months. If Osun can pay also, workers will return to work. But he has defaulted in his responsibility. This joint ownership is not helping us. Oyo should take over the institution.

“Osun did not do anything in LAUTECH besides the teaching hospital in Osogbo. We are calling for the dissolution of the joint ownership.”