The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has urged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart Gboyega Oyetola to cede the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, to either of the two states without further delay.
The monarch gave the advice while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State chapter, led by the Chairman, Alhaji Ademola Babalola, in his palace on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old university jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states has been facing ownership crisis in the past few years.
The Alaafin said in the interest of peace, one state should be allowed to run the school.
Oba Adeyemi said the best way to solve the protracted crisis at LAUTECH was for the two states to part ways by mutual consent.
He listed differences in political ideologies and administrative policy variations as the major hindrances to the progress of the university.
He said, “Have you heard of a situation where two men marry the same woman at the same time? There is no way two states will run one university in Nigeria.
“There are sometimes when the governors will come from different political parties. No, two states cannot manage one university successfully. Even when they are from the same political party, they will have different policies.
“For example, some of the educational policies introduced by Rauf Aregbesola have been cancelled by Oyetola. So, there is no way two states can manage the university successfully.”
The monarch, who said journalism was a taxing profession, urged journalists in the country to be careful while performing their duties.
He said, “This is a risky job. Many people who are in government want to associate with you, but it is risky. It is with peace and joy that I welcome you to this palace. You have to be very careful.”
Babalola, who commended the monarch for his bravery, urged all levels of government to carve special roles for traditional rulers, saying traditional rulers were too important to be pushed to the background.
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