Kunle Adelabu
-We have confirmed he graduated from LASU – APC, Campaign DG
-Onus on him to prove otherwise – Reconciliation Chair
Did Mr Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in the forthcoming General Elections, graduated from the Lagos State University (LASU) or not?
This question and others are what Gbolahan, who is the son of the former Deputy Governor of Lagos State and Chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAS), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), will have to answer satisfactorily in order to prove to the people that the candidate, who was a former Sole Administrator of Ikorodu Local Government, has the integrity to be a State lawmaker.
The matter, which started as a rumour before the APC primary election degenerated after the party issued Gbolahan the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) form as the flag bearer of the party some weeks back.
It, however, fully became a public matter when documents surfaced to that effect, coupled with the request by the former Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) and a two term aspirant for the Ikorodu Constituency I seat, Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan , at the party’s reconciliation meeting held at the Ikorodu APC Secretariat along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikorodu, on Thursday, July 14, 2022, that party leaders should look into the issue in order to prevent embarrassing situation where the party is denied the position after the election.
He also provided documents he said was response from the Lagos State University (LASU) and others related to the allegations.
“And, of course, if this reconciliation Committee can take a look at it and safe the face of the party and Ikorodu, it would be better”, Bolowotan said.
Bolowotan, who charged the committee to be conscious of history of representation from Ikorodu, added that there are lots of people with capacity and academic standing to represent the Constituency and not a School Certificate holder.
“Once again, I just want to appeal to the leadership of Ikorodu APC to look at it critically, objectively without fear or favour and see what is being presented before us”, he appealed further.
The sports administrator,however,said that he has no problem with the outcome of the primary election that produced Gbolahan as the party’s candidate.
Meanwhile, Mr Kehinde Ayanbadejo, the Director – General, OGA (Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo Campaign Organisation) told THE IMPACT that the APC candidate is a graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
He provided our reporter the letter from LASU date July 13, 2022, in respect of a request by the State Secretariat of the APC.
In the letter with Reference No: LASU/REG/E&R/043, Mr Emmanuel A. Fanu, Registrar/Secretary to Council, confirmed that Gbolahan Ogunleye, graduated with a Pass in Bachelor of Science (Economics) in 1999/2000 academic session.
“Having gone through available records in the University, I, hereby, confirm that Mr OGUNLEYE Gbolahan Adetokunbo graduated from the Lagos State University with the following details…”
Meanwhile, when asked to further comment on the allegations by Mr Gafaar Bolowotan, Mr Ayanbadejo charged our reporter to investigate the authencity of the document he presented to our reporter, adding that the Ogunleye’s media team will soon issue statement on the matter.
“The letter above is a sufficient proof which can be investigated”, he said.
“However, OGA Media team will come up with a press statement soon”, Ogunleye’s DG added.
But the letter of authentication of result does not contain Gbolahan’s Matriculation Number.
The letter also directed the party to ascertain if the Ogunleye Gbolahan Adetokunbo whose record was provided, is same with the one the party requested for.
Another document, also obtained by THE IMPACT, titled, ‘Notification of Final Year Degree Examinations Results 1999/2000 Academic Session’, issued by the University, in 2001 and signed by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Academic), the institution also confirmed that Gbolahan Ogunleye has fulfilled all requirements for the award of Bachelor of Science.
THE IMPACT also gathered that part of proof of graduation was a Certificate of National Service for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with NYSC AK/LSU/01/239610, was issued in the name of Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye to have completed one year of national service from 7th January, 2002 to 6th January 2003 in accordance with section 11 of the National Youth Service Corps No. 51 of 1993.
But in another document which was submitted to the APC Reconciliation Committee led by Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, by Mr Gafaar Bolowotan, the same institution allegedly denied that Gbolahan Ogunleye graduated from the institution.
In the letter dated June 28, 2022, and addressed to Saidi Sanni Chambers (Legal Practitioners), the legal firm that has approached the institution for details about the APC candidate’s status, the Deputy Registrar (Exams & Records Division), LASU, the institution said that:
“Having gone through records available at the Examination and Records Division, I write to confirm that there is no record that the Notification of Result in respect of Mr OGUNLEYE Gbolahan Adetokunbp with Matriculation Number 94/06/01/092 was issued to him by the University”.
“Consequently on the above, I write to request that you advise Mr OGUNLEYE Gbolahan Adetokunbo to visit the Office of Deputy Registrar Examinations and Records Division, Lagos State University, with his original credential(s) to assist us conclude the verification process of his academic documents”, the institution added.
Also, in the University’s brochure for the 1999/2000 academic graduation which was held in 2001, Mr OGUNLEYE Gbolahan Adetokunbo’s name is also conspicuously missing.
It was also gathered that the embattled APC Assembly Candidate did not fill any information in the column where he was expected to fill details of his higher institution qualification(s).
Whereas, in the nomination form submitted for his aspiration, he filled his primary school and secondary schools as UPE Primary School, Festac and the Lagos State Model College, Badagry.
Attempts to get the Lagos State University authority to confirm the credentials in circulation and status of Mr Ogunleye did not yield any result as at time of filing this report.
An official letter sent to the Registrar of LASU through a mail ([email protected],ng) has also not been responded to.
However, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, responding to the allegations and the request by Mr Gafaar Bolowotan, said:
“One must look at the allegations he raised genuinely because we have seen what happened in other states where actually we won an election but because of some discrepancies in results and Certificate, we lost it to the opposition”, Asipa Kaoli added.
While stating that the person who is being alleged will have to prove otherwise, Asipa Kaoli also stated that the allegations by Mr Gafaar Bolowotan was not in any way challenging the outcome of the primary election, but cautioning the party to be careful in handling the matter.
“Now, it is incumbent on the person being alleged to proof otherwise. Once he is able to do that, it will be good”, he said.
“Moreso, the minimum qualification required is below University graduate level which is dependent on what is submitted to the INEC and what he claimed he has. If it’s proved that he has it, of course, no hassle.
“Bolowotan is not saying that he has issue with who won (the primary election) or who did not. He is also not saying that he won the election, but he was only cautioning the party, through the document he availed to us, against the probability of losing that election to the opposition, even after we might have won it”, Asipa Kaoli said.
Attempts to get the reaction of the State APC Secretariat also proved abortive, but a reliable source at the ACME party office, Ikeja, confirmed that the party has made the confirmation, regarding the authencity of Gbolahan Ogunleye being a graduate of LASU.
“Stop bothering yourself, the Office of the Secretary of our party has confirmed that Gbolahan Ogunleye graduated from LASU”, the source confirmed.
“Ignore the wailers, please. Let’s move forward”, he added.
