By Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, has cleared the air over his alleged involvement in the recent cancellation of the selection process of a new Vice-Chancellor for the Lagos State University (LASU).
In a statement on Sunday, Abiru, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said his attention had been drawn to a viral video on Governor Sanwo-Olu’s decision to cancel the selection process that the Governing Council of LASU initiated in synergy with the LASU Senate.
He said, “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.”
The senator added that he neither prevailed on Sanwo-Olu 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, saying that he 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,” the senator said.
Recall the governor, on January 7, had cancelled the process for the appointment of a substantive ninth Vice-Chancellor of the state-owned institution, ordering a fresh process within 45 days.
