Jare Babatunde
Senator Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, FCA, the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, has denied any involvement in the cancelation of the screening process for the selection of a new Vice Chancellor (VC) for the Lagos State University (LASU).
He also dismissed the claim in a video on instagram that he prevailed on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to screen out indigenes from Ikorodu out of the VC position on the ground that Ikorodu is more interested in the governorship position, describing the claim as a figment of the imagination of the person making it.
In a statement released on Monday (today) and signed by the Senator, he said that as a “promoter of good corporate governance hinged on competence, due process and transparency”, he believes that competence should be at the core of operations in both public and private organizations.
He added that he is of the position that the appointment of another VC for LASU and other tertiary institutions should be based on competence and due process.
The release is reproduced below verbatim:
I Have No Hand ln The Cancellation of LASU VC Selection Process
“My attention has been drawn to a viral video on the decision of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to cancel the process that the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU) initiated in synergy with the LASU Senate to select the next Vice Chancellor of the university.
“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 grounds that the 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. I neither prevailed on Mr. Governor 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. As a matter of fact, I did not play any role in the whole process.
“For the purpose of record, I worked in the 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. This is the position I have always held, especially in this era when we consciously look forward to our universities to lead the path to sustainable development in all facets of life”.
Senator Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, FCA.
(“Tokunbo Abiru”)
Senator, Lagos East,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
January 24, 2021.
