By Oludamisi Ojo
A 92-year-old third substantive Registrar of the then University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Chief Alex Ajayi is aggrieved on the recent row at the prestigious citadel of learning.

The Nonagenarian described the development as a gross debasement of Ivory towers.

The institution was attacked by protesters over tussle on the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Adebayo Simeon Banire.

Ajayi, who was at different times OAU’s Governing Council member and Registrar, said the appointment of a VC in any federal institution, is by merit, and can’t be predicated on ethnicity and other provincial sentiments.

The first graduate of Ado Ekiti metropolis, spoke with reporters in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, on the attack by indigenes and traditionalists of Ile Ife on the university over the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.
The attack was said to have been propelled by intention of some Ile- Ife indigene to have one of the Professors from that town appointed into the coveted seat.

Ajayi described the attackers as myopic and barbaric with their unwarranted action.

According to him, the federal universities appoint their VCs based on merit and not by pandering to narrow nativity sentiment.

Ajayi urged Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, to swiftly intervene and rein in those he described as “uninformed attackers” and prevent them from defiling the school that commands high regard nationally and globally.

His words: “For 10 years, 1966-1976, I was appointed by the military government of General Aguiyi Ironsi and Lt Col Adekunle Fajuyi of Western Region as a pioneer member of the statutory governing council of the university and invited by the university into administration to act as Deputy Registrar/Acting Registrar in 1969.

“I am worried that a new generation of the so- called Ife indigenes had returned OAU to the dark ages. The location of the University at Ife should be a joy because other competitors abounded, like Owo. Oba Olateru Olagbegi wanted it located between Owo and Benin, so that the Benin people won’t break away from the southwest.

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“If it is the present-day dispensation, Chief Obafemi Awolowo would have sited the university at Ikenne and nobody would have changed it. By the third year of the university of Ife, only one Ife indigene was an academic staff, one Mr Oretuyi, who was an Assistant Lecturer in Law. A few others joined later.
“These hoodlums are a disgrace to Ife. They don’t know the norms of appointment of a VC in the university. They thought the university was like a local modern school or Magrantha. They are not informed that it is excellence that decides appointments in the universities.

“ For my 10 years with Oxford and Cambridge, never did I hear of appointment being done at the level of nativity. An Ibo Man, Prof. Onwemechili succeeded Prof Aboyade at Ife as VC and the revered Prof Kenneth Dike was the first VC of University of Ibadan”.

Ajayi said since inception of OAU, Ekiti has always constituted 60 percent of the academic staff and the numerical strength didn’t spur them to agitate to be VC.

He stressed that the first Ekiti indigene to be VC in that institution was appointed just a few years ago.

According to him,” the university is located at Ile Ife at all is of monumental advantage to the city. The economic, social, intellectual, and international boost the university has brought are unquantifiable. It has helped in bringing the city from a sleepy community to a vibrant centre of culture and learning”.

The former Registrar added that Ile Ife has no reason to claim ownership of a university that belongs to the Federal government, referring to this as an aberration.

“I see this incident as a dent on the decorum that is Ife people are known. I am sure that the Imperial Majesty, Arole Oodua, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi will rein in these uninformed, depraved, and barbaric people, who were embarrassment and a stain on the town”.

The former OAU Registrar urged Ife indigenes to come out and denounce these so- called supporters or hold themselves liable for the attack.

Ajayi emphasised that the attack was an uncivilised action, stressing that Ife indigenes and academia, who contested against the new VC must also come out and denounce them.