By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

Chairman of the Governing Council, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Prince Diran Odeyemi, has cautioned against blackmail and undue politicking in the selection of a new Rector for the institution.

Odeyemi, in a statement issued on Friday, stressed that merit would be the sole criterion in appointing the next head of the college, dismissing allegations of favouritism levelled against Governor Ademola Adeleke by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

He described the allegations as baseless, stating that Governor Adeleke had instructed that due process be followed without bias for gender, religion, or ethnicity.

“The governor, who is the visitor to the institution, has made it clear that the selection process must be transparent and strictly based on merit. If this is what the APC calls interference, then they should look elsewhere for their unfounded criticisms,” Odeyemi declared.

He revealed that the position was advertised widely, including in The Punch, to attract the best candidates from within and outside Nigeria. According to him, attempts by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to restrict the appointment to internal candidates were rejected in the interest of academic excellence.

“I insisted that the process must be open to the best applicants from anywhere. The governor agreed because he prioritises competence over sentiments,” he added.

Odeyemi emphasised that the selection would be guided by National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) regulations and the institution’s internal statutes. He warned against attempts to blackmail the governor, stating that only candidates with proven capacity, strong academic qualifications, and the right vision for the institution would be considered.

“The appointment of a new Rector is the sole responsibility of the Governing Council and the Visitor. Dragging Governor Adeleke into the process is nothing but a cheap attempt at blackmail,” he said.

He assured that under Adeleke’s leadership, the college would maintain its reputation for excellence and would not lower its standards for any political or sentimental reasons.