Two Professors, Oyesoji Aremu and Victor O. Adetimirin, have withdrawn from the race to emerge as Senate Representatives on the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor for the University of Ibadan.
Their withdrawal from the race was convened to the Deputy Registrar (Senate, Admission and Affiliated Institutions), Morenike F. Afolabi, who was accused of convening the meeting in an impromptu manner.
Afolabi had in a message to those to be involved in the meeting, said: “There will be a Special Meeting of Senate on Wednesday, 25 November, 2020 at 3.00 p.m. in the Trenchard Hall.
“The meeting is convened to announce the result of the election of Senate Representatives on the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the appointment of Vice Chancellor, scheduled for same day.
“Kindly note that manual voting will start at 10:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m., after which the Special Meeting will commence.
“Please attend and be punctual.
“Relevant documents are circulated herewith.
“Thank you.”
But reacting to the development, Aremu said: “I acknowledge receipt of your text message requesting me to submit two names of Senate Members to serve as my tellers for a supposed election slated for tomorrow.
“While I thank you for the message, I should let you know that the message was not only a surprise, it came as a shock requesting me for the names for an election I’m not aware of.
“One, I wasn’t at Senate Meeting so I’m not privy to any decisions so taken. And there isn’t any release to that effect even till now. Besides, why the haste?
“Two, asking me to submit two names impliedly mean I consent to an election in less than 24 hours which is not democratic.
“Three, the request did not factor my emotional wellness and physical availability for such a huge task.
“Consequent on the above, I decline as requested.”
In a follow up message, Aremu further told Afolabi: “Earlier this evening, I sent a text message and another letter via this medium declining participation in the said election slated for tomorrow.
“On this account, the outcome of the exercise in terms of the results of the election cannot be attributed to me in anyway.
“Kindly respect my decision which was without any malicious intent.
“Thank you, madam and God bless.”
In his own reaction, Adetimirin, a Professor of Plant Breeding and Crop Production in the Department of Crop and Horticultural Sciences, replied that he would not be attending the meeting.
He wrote: “I read your text of 5.08 pm in respect of the fresh manual election of Senate representative on the Joint Council/Senate selection Board for the Appointment of Vice-Chancellor, requesting for my tellers at the election to be held tomorrow, Wednesday 25 November, 2020 – less than 24 hours away.
“Given the very short notice, I write to formally withdraw as a candidate in the election. I will not be available to participate in the election. Kindly remove my name from the list of the candidates.
“Consequently, there is no need for me to have tellers at the election.
“With best wishes.”
