Don clears air on UNIOSUN shortlist

A Professor of Forest Economy, Labode Popoola, has cleared the air on the controversy generated by the shortlist of six applicants for the post of Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo. Popoola, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone on Friday, said he was not behind the publication of a letter he sent to the council in which he faulted his exclusion from the shortlist.
The PUNCH, on Friday, exclusively reported the disagreement of three applicants, who faulted the selection process embarked upon by the council of the university.
A text message by Popoola said, “If I ever appealed to the Governing Council, which I hold in reverence on this matter, it was confidential and should not be in the public domain.
“As a principle, I do not subscribe to resolving matters on the pages of newspapers.”
A professor of Chemical Pathology and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, Basiru Okesina, faulted the selection process, saying it was wrong for the council to exclude him from the race on account of his non-possession of a PhD.
Okesina said his possession of the Fellow of National Postgraduate Medical College is a suitable alternative to a PhD, adding that his exclusion was shocking.
Another professor and former Director, Quality Assurance and ICT Unit, UNIOSUN, also faulted his exclusion.
The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr. Najeem Salaam, had directed the council to stay action on the selection process.
His spokesperson, Mr. Goke Butika, on Thursday, said the position of the legislature on the matter remained unchanged.
The six shortlisted candidates for the post of VC by the council include Prof. Olu Odeyemi, Prof. Ayodele Agbonjinmi, Prof. Joshua Obaleye, Prof. Duro Ajeyalemi, Prof. Kola Oloke and Prof. Oladiran Famurewa.