By Jeleel Olawale
The Governing council and senate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has appointed Professor Bamire Adebayo as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution. The council appointed Bamire after rigorous screening for candidates vying for the office which lasted two weeks. Professor Bamire who was the 12th Vice-Chancellor was until his appointment former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics and hails from the faculty of Agricultural science. Meanwhile, the Ife Youths indigenes have protested against the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor, describing the processes that led to the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor as fraud, and lacks transparent and merit. The group blocked the main gate of the institution to express their displeasure.The protest caused traffic gridlock which lasted for several hours while motorists and students were not allowed to get access to the institution. One of the protesters, Comrade Oluwaseun said Ife has not been appointed as substantive VC since 65 years of the institution except Professor Anthony Elujoba who was appointed in acting capacity only to stabilize the institution when it was in turmoil. He said Ile-Ife was being cheated as the host community which cannot happen elsewhere. "Ile-Ife deserved to be VC as there were numerous qualified sons and daughters of Ife indigenes to hold the office. One of the Ife indigene professors who participated in the screening exercise and we wondered why he was not picked. If the process was transparent enough he would have been appointed because he is most qualified among the candidates". Oluwaseun vowed that the group would continue to picket the institution until justice is done. He urged the council to reverse Bamire's appointment in the interest of justice and peace in the university community. The Osundaily had reported that Ifeland Elders and Youth Movement, an umbrella body of Ife indigenes has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint one of its sons as the next substantive Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University located in the town.
