CRISIS HIT OLABISI ONABANJO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OVER ELECTION
Omooba Risawe
Olabisi Onabanjo University Almuni Association,is now enmeshed in a crisis as a faction pulled out from an election conducted which produced new leadership for the body.
It would be recalled that, National body had on January 29 held election in Ijebu-Ode which produced Afolabi Sorunke as president who scored 35 votes, while his opponent Ebun Atinuke polled 1 vote.
However, Abeokuta branch of the association in a statement on Sunday said the exercise was questionable and a charade,because the branch was marginalised.
Signed by Ebun Atinuke(Chairman) and Ismaila Jamiu(Secretary),a statement argued that the purported election just allotted one vote for the opponent of the controversial elected president,to cover up the alleged dubious act.
The aggrieved body further added that,the election ought to have not take place at that time because it concise with the convocation period of the university,which the Alumni was expected to actively participate as a critical stakeholder of the university
‘Our attention has been drawn to an election purportedly conducted by the national body of the Olabisi Onabanjo. University Alumni Association as held on Sunday 29th, January,2017 in an hotel in Ijebu-Ode,which out to have not held at that time’,the statement argued.
‘As it concise with the convocation period of the university which the Alumni is expected to actively participate as a critical stakeholder of the university. We as a vibrant branch felt disturbed by the manner that the whole process of the election was carried out’
The branch pointed out that,the expected ten delegates from each of the existing eight branches were not in attendance as stipulated by the constitution during the election,hence,the process marginalized the vital and critical stakeholders in the election.
‘The result of the purported election for the office of the national president which allotted 35 votes for Mr Afolabi Sorunke and 1 vote for Alhaji Ebun Atinuke who did not submit his nomination form nor attend the screening exercise before the election is questionable and can best be described as a charade’,the branch declared
The statement emphasised that the purported election was not a true reflection of representation of existing branches which runs contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the association.
‘Our branch did not participate in the said election and was never represented by anybody. In view of this,our branch dissiacociate ourselves from the outcome of the alleged and purported election’.
‘The university management,the council and general public should disregard the outcome of the said election as held on Sunday 29,January,2017’,the statement posited.
‘In view of the above,the officers so elected from the purported election should not be accorded the recognition that they should ordinarily be entitled. At the Abeokuta branch of Olabisi Onabanjo University Alumni Association,we remain committed to the overall growth and development of our Alma mata’,the branch declared
