Two years after, Gov Abiodun refuses to fulfil promise made to Ogun West

Contrary to his campaign promise, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has refused to establish a university in Yewa, Ogun West Senatorial District of the State, two years after his inauguration.

Abiodun, while campaigning during the 2019 governorship election had promised to establish a university in Yewa.

Responding to a request made by the Oloke of Oke-Odan, Oba (Dr) Oluremi Fagbenro, during his campaign in Yewa South Local Government in January 2019, Abiodun said he was aware that only Ogun West has no university in the state, while the remaining two districts, Ogun Central and Ogun East, all have universities in their areas.

However, two years after he assumed office as the governor of the state, Abiodun has refused to say a word about the university he promised the people of Ogun West.

DAILY POST reports that the past administration of former Governor, Ibikunle Amosun established a polytechnic in Ipokia after he upgraded Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, (MAPOLY) Abeokuta to Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology (MAUSTECH) in 2017.

But immediately Abiodun assumed office, he reversed the policies of his predecessor as he returned MAPOLY to Abeokuta.

With this, the people of Yewa demanded that the university, which was supposed to be in Abeokuta should be moved to the new site in Ipokia.

In 2019, a committee was set up by Abiodun to review the new university and Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

DAILY POST recalls that the committee has since submitted its report, after listening to the people of Egba and Yewa, who were both clamouring that MAUSTECH be located in their regions.

The people of Ogun West said they deserve a university, being the only marginalised area in Ogun State.

In their submissions, Ogun West traditional rulers, elders, lawmakers and youths, including the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, maintained that, while the Ijebus and the Egbas have different public universities in their domains, Yewa has none.

Their appeal to Abiodun in 2019 was that he should ensure equal distribution of the state’s wealth by locating MAUSTECH in Ipokia, especially after the polytechnic had been relocated to Abeokuta.

However, the Egbas of Ogun Central said the university must be in Abeokuta because Egba has not hosted a state government-owned varsity like the Ijebus in Ogun East, who have Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun.

DAILY POST reports that during an inter-denominational thanksgiving service at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, in September 2019, Abiodun said he was aware that both Ogun West and Ogun Central wanted the university located in their areas.

But, the governor said MAUSTECH would remain in Abeokuta, saying he would also establish a university in Ogun West at the site that was being developed for the reversed polytechnic in Ipokia.

Our correspondent reports that the structures constructed in Ipokia for the aborted polytechnic are already lying waste as government keeps mum on the project.

On different occasions, the Onipokia of Ipokia, Oba Yisa Olaniyan, has appealed to Gov Abiodun to do something about establishing a higher institution of learning in Ipokia for the benefit of the people of Ogun West, who he said travel miles to have access to higher education.

Also, the Chairman of Ipokia Youths Development Council, Rasheed Idris, has urged the governor to establish a university in Ipokia, stressing that he should not wait till the next election period before doing the needful.

Meanwhile, Abiodun has approved the upgrade of MAPOLY to a degree-awarding institution.

Abiodun granted approval to MAPOLY to commence the process of affiliation with Olabisi Onabanjo University for the purpose of running B.Tech programmes.

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