New FUNAAB vice-chancellor incurs Alake, Egba chiefs’ anger
…University rejects Oba Gbadebo’s congratulatory letter
http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Oba-Adedotun-Aremu-Gbadebo...Alake-of-Egbaland..jpg
By ‘Femi SHODUNKE
NIGERIA: THE new Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako, may have incurred the anger of the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and some of his high chiefs.
GatewayMail gathered over the weekend that the angry chiefs were particularly shocked to learn that the congratulatory letter sent by Alake to Salako on the day the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ololade Enikuomehin, handed over to him was rejected.
To them, such rejection, which came after Enikuomehin allegedly ordered workers to shut offices of the registrar, bursar and his to prevent a court injunction being served in the university, was an insult to the first class traditional ruler and the entire Egba indigenes.
GatewayMail had last Monday exclusively published that the three offices were on Monday, October 30, 2017 shut to prevent the senior principals of the university from being served a court injunction allegedly obtained by an angry professor who contested for the Vice-Chancellorship, but lost.
However, a university source disclosed that the letter from Oba Gbadebo, which was delivered by his second secretary, Chief Olufemi Ogunmokun, who spent 16 years at FUNAAB before retirement, was rejected despite explanation that it was from the Egba paramount ruler.
The eyewitness told GatewayMail: “It was really surprising. Why? Because the man, who brought the letter saw the main office of the VC locked and when he got to the other office the worker told him that they have been ordered not to accept any letter from anyone.”
“Even when the man said that it was from Oba Gbadebo, the staff insisted that he would not accept the letter and that the man should bring it back the following day,” the eyewitness further said of the congratulatory letter which was later released to the media by the Public Relations Directorate of the university, apparently to placate Alake.
But, a chief at Ake Palace, however, said that some of the Egba chiefs who heard of the rejection expressed anger and wondered why a congratulatory letter from Oba Gbadebo, who had travelled to London at the time, could be so disrespectfully rejected, “particularly since it was taken there by a chief who was once a staff of the university.”
“Yes, it’s true Kabiyesi’s letter was rejected. In fact, it was surprising particularly that the man who took the letter there was once a staff of the university, and indeed a chief who should be respected,” the chief, who preferred anonymity, said.
When contacted, the Special Adviser on Media to the monarch, Chief Layi Labode, confirmed the development, but played it down and dissuaded the GatewayMail from publishing the story.
Labode said in his response: “The new VC of FUNAAB, Prof F K Salako, had contacted the Alake and I on your story in the Gateway Mail and the Alake’s Congratulatory Message to the VC.
“The Alake had even been contacted immediately by the FUNAAB Authorities as to why all official letters coming in should not be entertained that morning, until after the conclusion of the formal inauguration of the VC.”
“Coincidentally, the Alake’s letter came in during the period and the man that bought same was asked to bring it back the following day,” Labode, who is the Aare Baaroyin of Egbaland, said.
He further said: “It may interest you, but unknown to many, that the Alake had been contacted on why the letter should be brought back the next day and His Majesty was satisfied with the reasons given.
“In fact the letter had been collected from the Ake Palace the following day by a FUNAAB Officer without any prompting or pressure from the Palace. This showed very good and friendly intentions on the part of the new VC and FUNAAB Authorities.”
“I wish to restate His Majesty’s conclusions that there was no ill will at all and would want the case/story rested. It may also interested (sic) you to note that the new VC paid a private visit to Ake soon after his inauguration. And that speaks volumes about Excellent Relationship and Communication,” the Special Adviser, who retired as Assistant General Manager with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), said
He further explained: “I therefore wish to ask you to leave that issue in its entirety. This is because the Alake firmly believes there is mutual friendship, understanding and cooperation between the new FUNAAB VC and himself.”
But when contacted, the duo of acting Head, Directorate of Public Relations of FUNAAB, Mr. Kola Adepoju, and his assistant, Mr. Adewale Kupoluyi, declined comments.
Oba Gbadebo had spoken glowingly of Salako in the congratulatory message to the new FUNAAB helmsman, who succeeded Prof. Olusola Oyewole currently facing charges at the Ogun State High Court over 18-count charges bordering on corruption, abuse of office and misappropriation of fund running into N800 million at an Ogun State High Court alongside ex-GC Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and former Bursar, Mr. Moses Ilesanmi.
“I heartily felicitate with you because I am sure that FUNAAB environment is not a novelty to you,” Oba Gbadebo said, adding: “And being an active member of that Academic Community, you are in a better position to proffer solution to any attendant problem.”
The monarch also said: “Your consummate academic and cognate administrative experience gives me absolute confidence that you would be on top of the situation. No doubt, you have been tested and made of a sterner stuff for your new position.”
- To contact GatewayMail newspaper, Toronto, Canada email us at: info@gatewaymail.org, whatsapp or text message: +2348033186252 (no calls).
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You said it yourself it was Enikuomehin that rejected the letter
Was it Salako that ordered them to shut the office?.