A former Minister of State for Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has said President Muhammadu Buhari and others that they can’t force Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to comment on the allegations raised against some members of the Peoples Democratic Party over alleged $2.1 billion arms scandal.
Adeyeye, who is now the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti while speaking in Ado Ekiti at the weekend during EKSU’s IGR Summit, said the silence by his former principal, was not borne out of trepidation, but for the fact that some of the issues raised are pending in court.
“Though, I can’t speak for former President Jonathan on this issue, but nobody can force him to speak because that could be subjudice. We should rather allow courts to determine who is guilty or innocent, rather than arm-chair trials being conducted by APC-led federal government”.
Lamenting the poor state of the Nigerian universities, in terms of facilities, funding and ranking, Adeyeye, said part of the rots was necessitated by honourary degrees being given to those with blemished records, saying such won’t happen again in EKSU.
The former Minister, who lauded the EKSU management for conceiving ideas that could help in shoring up the revenue base of the university, rather than sole reliance on government, said degrees, especially honoris causa, should ordinarily be for people of integrity in the society.
“Many people after getting honourary degrees would make promises to the institution but won’t fulfill it. From now, no fraudulent person will be honoured with degree in the university. Our focus won’t be on money again, but your integrity”.
Expressing confidence that EKSU could be financially self-sustaining when the bakery, block, water and ICT industries and other business ventures are well positioned, Adeyeye regretted that Nigerian Universities ranking began to nosedive globally, the moment there was administrative laxity.
“University of Ibadan was ranked sixth among the commonwealth universities in the 70’s. This shows that it was better than many of the universities in Britain, Australia and other advanced countries within that fold.
“The trend changed dramatically, because those who topped the class were being retained , but today, anybody can get his way into the academics as a lecturer due to political interference and this is killing the system”, he lamented.
Adeyeye clarified that the IGR policy, which will involve introduction of new innovations to make money does not contradict the vision of Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying such move would complement the financial drives of the present government.
The EKSU’ administrator added that the universities should not be removed from the society or failed to contribute meaningfully to its development, saying the university would be positioned to serve as the engine room of economic liberation for Ekiti, in no distant time.
“We are also planning to regularize the academic calendars of this university to the extent that the date of graduation will be stated on admission letters of students. Quality assurance must be guaranteed, because there must be certainty in the academic environment.
“We are also planning to build the principal officers’ lodge on campus and ensure that students are fully resident on campus. We are determined to break all barriers to ensure that our certificates are respected.”
