Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello, Lagos Commissioner’s wife emerges 9th LASU VC

 

.As indigenes kick over appointment

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola-Sanwo-Olu has approved the appointment of Professor. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the 9th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU).

 

In a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Professor Olatunji-Bello was appointed following recommendation by the Joint Committee of Council and Senate of LASU in accordance with the LASU Law, Cap 169 Vol 7, Laws of Lagos State.

 

The new appointee is a wife to the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello.

 

She assumed duty as the First Professor of Physiology in LASU College of Medicine on the 2nd of October 2007 after rising through the ranks from Assistant Lecturer (1988 to 1991) to Associate Professor in 2005 at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.

 

In Y2012, Mrs. Olatunji-Bello attended the Course 34 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, the highest policy advisory body of the Federal Government, as a nominee of the National Universities Commission.

 

A member of the National Institute (mni), Mrs. Olatunji-Bello holds a Fellowship Award of the Physiological Society of Nigeria and was also appointed a Fellow of the Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Mitigation in the year 2019.

 

Prof. Olatunji-Bello as well as two other candidates, Professor Omotayo R. Awofolu and Professor Senapon Bakare, was recommended for the position in order of ranking respectively.

 

The process of selecting a substantive Vice-Chancellor for LASU commenced with advertisements for the vacant position in three National dailies on Friday, July 30th and Friday 13th August, 2021 respectively.

 

The tenure of the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, lapsed on January 11, 2021.

 

LASU: Omo Eko Pataki kicks over appointment of Olatunji-Bello as VC

 

Former Minister of Communications, and trustee of Ọmọ Eko Pataki, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd), has condemned the emergence of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello as the Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU.

 

In a statement issued on Thursday, he described the appointment as unwholesome and skewed.

 

“We at Ọmọ Eko Pataki are particularly saddened and troubled with this brazen miscarriage of justice. This decision is a lie. And as Thomas Carlyle observed correctly: “No lie can live forever.”

 

The statement titled “A gross marginalization of Lagosians” reads in full:

 

“The Lagos State government of  one size fits all policy of marginalisation of Lagos State indigenes is pushing the natives further into an  enclave of sheer servitude.

 

“This unwholesome decision of the government will not stop us from speaking out.

 

“Ọmọ Eko Pataki will never be blackmailed or threatened into silence. We will continue to defend and protect the collective heritage and the dignity of our people against the ravages of the scourge of aliens

 

“It is so obvious now that the government of Jide Sanwoolu is indifferent and contemptuous of the popular feelings of the indigenous community.

 

“With the skewed decision to appoint Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji Bello, a native of Ondo State as the new Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU, Lagosians have been inflicted with an unpopular candidate far and above well qualified natives.

 

“Sanwoolu himself who is of contested and ambiguous origin has demonstrated a crass partisan inclination that is disdainful of the democratic clamour of Lagosians. He has basically thumbed his nose on our people. While this may be the saddest day in the history of Lagosians, those who conspired to deepen our marginalization will never be forgiven by the ultimate judgement of history.

 

“A desperate candidate, who came last twice in the Sanwoolu’s annulled exercises, has suddenly transmogrified into number one position! This is gross abuse of public office to suit preferred political tendencies.

 

“From the beginning of this struggle to the final decision of government brilliant professors of Lagos State indigenes, some members of the Selection and Governing Councils and others lost out for performing and asking for their legitimate duties. They were removed from participating in the process of selecting the VC of LASU.

 

“The Pivot of the Nigerian constitution is to protect the rights of the citizens. This very core of our liberty naturally dovetails to the state level where the indigenous communities in all the states are to be given preference in all appointments. Lagos state remains an aberration where indigenes are still being treated like second class citizens on their own soil. What a shame!

 

“We at Ọmọ Eko Pataki are particularly saddened and troubled with this brazen miscarriage of justice. This decision is a lie. And as Thomas Carlyle observed correctly: “No lie can live forever.”

 

“Sanwoolu may have had his way. But not for long. His rigged victory is transient. The collaborators of injustice can never escape the well hewn unforgiving arbitration of Providence. This is a Pyrrhic victory for the ephemeral tools of power.  We will not be silenced. Our voice will remain strong and vibrant, unmuted by the lash of evil.  We will continue to resist and rail against injustice until the truth prevails over falsehood”.