Ex-JAMB Registrar denies rift with Education Minister •Appreciates Buhari, ex-presidents, Nigerians

IMMEDIATE past Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, has denied reports that he had disagreements with the Minister of Education, Mallam  Adamu Adamu, which led to his removal from office, noting that contrary to the speculation, he left office on a good note with the minister.

This was as he appreciated former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, as well as President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity given to him to serve the country, adding that he was grateful to all Nigerians for allowing him the opportunity to serve in different capacities in the last 25 years.

Media reports in several newspapers (not Nigerian Tribune) had, following the removal of Ojerinde and 16 other heads of agencies in the Ministry of Education on August 1, hinted that the JAMB Registrar, whose second tenure was to expire April 2017, was removed because he had differences with the minister.

But Ojerinde, who put the lie to the claim, during a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the First Baptist Church, Igboho, Oyo State, maintained that he knew of his removal several hours before the announcement and, in fact, sent a text to the minister on the same day to appreciate him, adding that he visited the minister in his office a day after, with the minister noting that his door remained open to him (Ojerinde) and that he wished Ojerinde had completed his term.

The former JAMB Registrar, who had, on Saturday, been given a triumphant welcome at a reception organised by the Ifelodun Omo Igboho, in conjunction with the Igboho Connect Group, stated that the removal did not shock him and that he had prepared his mind on any eventuality several months before he was removed, appreciating President Buhari and the minister for giving him the opportunity to stay in office till August 1.

According to Ojerinde, “I have always believed in God’s timing. I had prepared my mind that anything could happen and I can say that this development did not meet me unexpectedly. Even when I met with the minister, who I respect as a good Muslim, and he said he would have loved that I finished my term, I told him that it was God’s time and that God’s time is always the best.

“I am grateful to him and to President Buhari, as well as his predecessors in office, Chief Obasanjo and Dr Jonathan. In fact, I am grateful to all Nigerians for giving me the platforms to serve my country in the last 25 years.”

Ojerinde was first appointed as the Director of Monitoring, National Primary Education Commission in 1990 and had since served in several capacities in the education sector, including the National Board for Education Measurement, Minna, which later became NECO as Registrar/CEO and JAMB, where he served for nine years.