The Senior staff members of the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, have described the step aside order given to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Michael Ologunde, by the Seyi Makinde led administration as illegal.

Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde in a letter through his Commissioner for Education, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, on Saturday, called for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor.

However, senior staff members of the institution in a press statement made available to pressmen in Ibadan the Oyo State, which was signed by their chairman, Fajoye Hamzat Oyelere rejected this order.

They noted that the institution is an autonomous body and the Vice-Chancellor can only be ordered to resign before the end of his tenure by the Governing Council.

According to the senior staff, the said letter did not categorically lay any allegation against the deposed Vice-Chancellor other than he should step aside.

The Union in the light of equity, justice and fair play arising from the branch executive emergency online meeting observed that Professor Ologunde can be removed by the Governing Council but not by the Visitor or his proxy. 

SSANU also observed that the power to appoint and terminate staff appointments is resided in the Governing Council and not the Visitor or his proxies including the Commissioner of Education, Science & Technology.

The union also maintained that the law of the university did not give the power to administer the university to the Commissioner but the Governing Council

It however appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to rescind his decision and reinstate the deposed Vice-Chancellor in the spirit of justice, equity and fair play.