In a statement by Dr. Adegboyega, the former Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Lalong, former Governor of Plateau State, and Director General of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council of APC in the last presidential election, he emphasized that the College of Education has come to stay and nothing should be done to disrupt the peace and tranquility enjoyed in the State under the leadership of His Excellency Governor Abiodun Oyebanji.
Dr. Adegboyega further explained that in May 2021, a bill seeking the establishment of two Federal Colleges of Education in Ekiti and Borno States respectively underwent a public hearing at the Senate. The bills are the "Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Education Gwoza, Borno State and for other Matters Connected Therewith (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021) [SB: 350]," sponsored by Distinguished Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), and the "Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Education Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State and for other Matters Connected Therewith (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021)," sponsored by Distinguished Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South).
Upon approval, the proposed Federal Colleges of Education will be located in Gworza, Borno South Senatorial district in Borno State, and Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti South Senatorial district in Ekiti State.
Specifically, the Bill for the establishment of the Federal College of Education Omuo Ekiti was sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, now former Senator Biodun Olujimi, and passed by both chambers of the 9th National Assembly. The public hearing was conducted by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, chaired by Senator Babba Kaita.
Dr. Adegboyega highlighted that Omuo kingdom, comprising over 12 communities in Ekiti East with no Federal or State presence, deserves the College. He mentioned that a bill establishing the College of Education had been passed, awaiting the President's assent, before the alleged alteration and relocation of the school were brought to light.
Furthermore, he stressed that the passage of the (Establishment, Etc, Bill, 2021), sponsored by Distinguished Senator Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), resulted from a painstaking legislative process with the support of traditional rulers, dignitaries, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Ekiti South. Therefore, any attempts to relocate the College should be vehemently opposed.
Dr. Adegboyega expressed his bewilderment that someone or a group of people who did not initiate the request would seek to take advantage of the absence of the bill's sponsor in the upcoming 10th assembly to alter what was clearly not theirs.
He called upon President Ahmed Tinubu to rectify this alleged injustice and, if the insinuation about the relocation is found to be true, return the institution to Omuo Ekiti for the sake of fairness and justice.
Signed,
Amb. (Dr.) Adegboyega Bamisile (Ijinle)
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