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The remaining two
Osun State-born board members of the Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology (LAUTECH), David Ogunsade and Oladapo Ojewoye, were
discharged last Thursday, signalling a probable end to the raging
ownership tussle between Osun and Oyo states.

The governing board
of the institution formally sent forth the duo at a colourful ceremony
at the university premises. It was also learnt at the event that the
government of Rauf Aregbesola, Osun state governor, did not include
funds for the institution in its 2011 budget proposal to the state
House of Assembly, fuelling the suspicion that he might have backed
down on his vow to challenge the move of his Oyo state counterpart,
Adebayo Alao-Akala, to solely secure the university for Oyo State.

The two states have
being at loggerheads over attempt by Mr. Alao-Akala to unilaterally
take over the management of the institution established by the old Oyo
state, out of which Osun was carved in 1992. The development has
created tension and disruption of academic activities, but the Oyo
State governor remained adamant in his intention as he had appointed
all staff to man all the key offices of the institution.

Case settled

The Pro-chancellor
and Chairman, Governing Board of the University, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN);
the Vice Chancellor, Moshood Olanrewaju Nassar; the Registrar, Niyi
Fehintola, and other principal officers, as well as the Osun State
members of the Council, were present at the occasion. “The case is
finally settled as the Osun state government has failed to include
LAUTECH in its budget for 2011. Members of the Osun state on the
Council of the institution have been sent forth and they have expressed
their happiness for making them to serve the institution for the number
of years spent,” Mr Nasir, said to emphasize that LAUTECH is now solely
owned by Oyo.

Mr. Ogunsade, who
served on the board for six years, said the experience was worthwhile.
The Vice Chancellor also used the occasion to comment on the state of
fees in the university. “Contrary to the wild rumour going around that
school fee of LAUTECH was increased across board, it is only
non-indigene fresh students that paid N110,000, while the indigenes
paid N90,000. All stale students paid N40,000 only,” he said.

“So, contrary to rumour making the rounds, the increment was not
made across board. Parents and guardians should not allow their stale
children to rip them off by collecting the amount meant for fresh
students.”