The Alumni of the University of Osun State (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, has rejected the recent renaming of the university by the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, after late Cicero of Esa-Oke and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, late Chief Bola Ige. The Alumni declared that the renaming of the university, announced during its 4th and 5th combined convocation, is “immaterial at this point in time”, urging Mr. Aregbesola to reverse the action.

It disclosed that it is considering the option of approaching the court of competent jurisdiction to seek redress on the subject matter if Governor Aregbesola refuses to reverse the action to status quo, alleging that he took the decision unilaterally without considering the interests of all the stakeholders of the university.

In a statement issued and signed by UNONSUN Alumni Association President, Mr. Oluwatosin Abikanlu, and Secretary-General, Mr. Otunde Adebowale, the association said it was rejecting the renaming of the university after late Ige “because Chief Bola Ige has nothing to do with the establishment of the university aside being a political leader in the state before he died in December 200.”

According to Alumni: “Renaming of the University of Osun State, popularly called UNIOSUN, after late Cicero of Esa-Oke and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, late Chief Bola Ige at this point in time, is immaterial and misplacement of priority. Chief Bola Ige has nothing to do with the establishment of the University. Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola action on the development is political and confusing and also, against the wishes of the UNIOSUN concern stakeholders.”

The Alumni noted that the acronym of the UNIOSUN with the renaming of Bola Ige University (BIU) also clashes with that of Benson Idahosa University (BIU).

The group in the statement issued Sunday in Oshogbo alleged that Mr. Aregbesola has not funded the university for the past two and half years now, leaving the university management in its wisdom to raise funds internally and as well as the help from the Federal Government agencies such as TETFUND. The Alumni said it was totally rejecting the renaming of the University at this point in time when it is facing financial difficulty, describing it as a misplacement of priority as the project is capitally intensive.

“As Alunmi of the UNIOSUN, we are totally rejecting the renaming of UNIOSUN because Mr. Aregbesola has failed to perform its constitutional duty in financing the university as its Visitor. We are ready to approach the court of competent Jurisdiction for redress if Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is NOT reversing the university to the status quo,” the statement said.

•Photo shows an anti-renaming flyer being circulated by UNIOSUN Alumni.

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