Following the protest and allegation of corruption against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Science, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, the management of the institution has described the allegations as spurious and unfounded.
The school management stated that the allegations by a sponsored group were the handiwork of some detractors who did not understand how things work in universities all over the world and had little or no knowledge about UNIMED.
It will be recalled that a group under the auspices of the Coalition of Ondo State Indigenes Against Corruption on Tuesday, stormed the Alagbaka governor’s office, protesting against Prof. Fatusi over alleged corrupt practices.
The protesters who alleged that Fatusi was involved in some corrupt practices in the administration of the institution, called for immediate removal.
But in a statement issued by the institution and signed by the Director of Media and Protocols, Isaac Oluyi faulted the claims of the protesters, noting that the fraud allegation against the vice Chancellor was the handiwork of fifth columnists and perceived enemies of the institution.
The statement stated that “the attention of the University has been drawn to the address by one Coalition of Ondo State Indigenes Against Corruption (COIAC) who made some wild allegations against the highly cerebral, honest and transparent Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
“For proper education of the public, it is imperative to contextualize the charade that took place in Akure on Tuesday, 16th July 2024.
“This development is not new. As far back as 2016 under the leadership of the pioneer VC of the University, there had been spurious allegations bordering on high-handedness, and lopsidedness in appointment, among others by faceless protesters who operate under different unrecognized associations to distract the institution from concentrating on what matters.
“It is therefore not surprising to see the deployment of the stock-in-trade method of these hirelings disguising themselves as stakeholders in the affairs of the university again. It’s a familiar terrain. We must however not allow this to fester in the best interest of the university.”
The statement read further, “the need to set the records straight. Universities, the world over, are to teach, research and do meaningful community service that will translate to sustainable development.
“This has been done excellently well by the leadership of Professor Adesegun Fatusi to the admiration of all. Specifically, the University, in terms of courses, has become a one-stop institution for all health sciences and medically-related courses.
“This is because more courses increase the potential for more students, more resources, greater impact in the health and medical world, greater visibility and greater contribution to the development of Ondo City and Ondo State, among others.
“Despite challenging infrastructural deficits and limited resources, the audacious mindset of the VC and his management has enabled the University to start the first Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation in West Africa.
“This is a man who is being accused of nepotism. A man who, despite not being from the state, is determined to reposition the university and make it a pride of all – Indigenes and non-indigenes
“In fact on staff employment and denial of opportunities to indigenes, facts and figures are there for all to see. Of the 307 junior staff in the employment of UNIMED as of December 2023, 235 (76.5%) are from Ondo State.
“Only four out of the 307 (1.3%) are from Ogun State, the state of origin of the VC. It needs to be added that not a single person among the four is from the VC’s Local Government Area – Ado-Odo/Ota!
“As for the academic and/or senior non-academic staff, merit, competence and quality have been adopted to attract the best hands to the university who can help in accomplishing the vision of the institution. This does not exclude the indigenes too.
“One then begins to wonder about the source of this spurious allegation about employing people from his state. The allegation is reductionist as the university system is being seen as a place that is for all-comers, whether they are qualified or not. This is indeed very sad”
“These individuals who know little or nothing about the workings of the university -locally and internationally – took caution to the wind by accusing a man with untainted integrity of corruption.
“The infrastructural development at this young university with meagre resources is a testament to the economic sagacity of Professor Adesegun Fatusi. It’s therefore strange to logic that he will be so accused.
“We call on the general public to be wary of these detractors. They are nothing but agents of destabilisation. The exploits of the Vice-Chancellor in the last four years and four months have continuously put the university on a progressive trajectory. This must not be halted by these paid protesters.
” For the umpteenth time, we invite the public to know that the allegations are baseless, untrue and a mere figment of the protesters and their sponsors’ imaginations.
“In not too distant future, we will address a press conference to showcase the achievements of Professor Adesegun Fatusi to the world. A goldfish has no hiding place. No one can soil the reputation of this man of integrity”
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