Letter to H.E , GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE, MR. BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO-OLU

 

by Indigenous Youths of Epe Division Forum

The attention of well meaning and highly respected Indigenes of Epe Division Youths has been drawn to the purported circular peddling around the public social media in relation to agitations of AWORI DESCENDANTS capable of causing crisis in the State, that belongs to many Tribes, despite the violatile period of the Country, at the moment.

The Epe People are peace loving individuals which has long been proven, though had always kept mute even in the face of denial of what is due to them, over time. 

The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) has Seven (7) Colleges namely : College of Management and Social Sciences Education (COMSSED), College of Specialised and Professional Education (COSPED), College of Sciences, College of Information Technology (COITED), College of Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (COVED), and College of Humanities. However, the Postgraduate School has unanimously been ceded to the Main Campus at Oto- Ijanikin.

We appeal to His Excellency, the Distinguished and People's Governor, Mr. *BABAJIDE OLUSOLA SANWO OLU* to step down and disregard such insensitive and self-centered plan/agenda of the few disgruntled Elements who may be parading themselves as the AWORI, as Institutions are established to develop Communities and boost economic status of every State, while Lagos State is not an exemption.

Mr. Governor Sir, a reasonable person will definitely observe that the secret plot seems to be incubated to circumvent your Second Term Agenda, by issuing Seven (7) Days Ultimatum Threat knowng fully well that General Elections are just fews days away.

We will equally like to bring to the General Public Notice that this unscrupulous circular has unsettled the Students who had already secured accommodation, paid tuition fees and settled down into their academics. Would these Students of whatever College the Group covets be asked to move to Ijanikin after all they have done and settled down at the designated Campus in Epe? Would the NUC change the Colleges or reverse the Collective decisions initially made by the Lagos State Government and the University Management? Would this portray a good image of Lagos State as the Centre of Excellence? How do we achieve the Mission and Vision for which the University is established amidst incessant and avoidable Selfishness, movitated by ill-conceived rationale? 

The University Authority, with the Leadership of the Council Chairman, Mrs Sekinat Yusuf and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bilikisu Lafiaji - Okuneye, under the auspices of the State Government, through the Office of the Special Adviser on Education (OSAE) in conjunction with the NUC designed Four (4) Colleges to be domiciled in Epe Campus and Three (3) Colleges with Postgraduate School to be domiciled in Oto- Ijanikin Campus . This would have emanated from carefully considered factors perhaps to decentralise the presumed concentration of Students in one area to dispel Congestion .

Sincerely Speaking, a huge amount had been incurred to bring home the bacon in positioning the Educational Institutions of the State to rightful place. We cannot afford to undermine the efforts of Mr GOVERNOR in attaining the Strategic Policy summarised as THEME. Lagos State can only move to enviable heights if its integral  components are evenly developed, devoid of sectoral imbalance and prejudices. 

Why would any purported AWORI DESCENDANTS  clamour for 40% of the University Workforce at the expense of other Divisions in the State? Lagos State accommodates virtually all Tribes in Nigeria, and if the demand is granted, it will  create a very bad precedence and imbalance in the Employment Opportunities, and negate the principles of Professionalism. This must be swiftly jettisoned and considered inconsequential, since the University has just been given birth to. 

The True AWORI DESCENDANTS would and must consider collective interest of the State and discourage any attempt for pursuits of personal interests to imbibe princples of Social Justice and Equity. 

Therefore, let us embrace peace and sheath our sword to speedily accomplish the Mega City of our dream.

We are watching keening the unfolding drama.