Juju scare at varsity site
20 May, 2010 08:45:00 VICTOR OGUNJE, Ado-Ekiti
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THE controversy surrounding the relocation of the University of Education, Ikere Ekiti (TUNDEK), Ekiti State, back to its former location has turned awry, as items suspected to be ‘juju’ has been placed at the site of the institution and some strategic locations in the community.

Gov. Segun Oni of Ekiti State in the heat of the crisis generated by the proposed relocation of the existing College of Education in Ikere Community to an undisclosed location, had ordered the temporary relocation of TUNEDIK to his country-home, Ifaki Ekiti.

The two institutions had co-existed since the establishment of TUNEDIK in 2008 by the Oni-led Administration, with the expectation that the existing College would metamorphose into a full-fledged University, while the College would be phased out and relocate to another town.

The relocation, said the governor was targeted at ensuring the security of over 500 students and staff of the newly established university, following the uprising that trailed the proposed relocation of the College that had been in existence since 1978.

As the State Government now making efforts to return the University to Ikere Community, the matter took a more dangerous dimension on Monday, the proposed day for the beginning of the relocation, as a small coffin with the inscription ‘RIP TUNEDIK’ was placed at a junction located in the heart of the ancient community.

Other charms placed within the site of the University in the College, said the Provost of the College, were a sculptured Idol and other materials suspected to be fetish.

Rattled by the development, the traditional ruler of the Community and the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adegboye Akayejo, had deployed a team of eight chiefs to the sites, where the Juju were placed to sanctify the environment.

A feeler in the Community confided in the newsmen that it took the chiefs, which constitutes the Ogoga-in-Council over three hours to complete the sanctification.

The Provost of the College, Dr. (Mrs) Titilayo Ogunmola, had, however, denied the allegation that the staff of the College in connivance with some desperate politicians, who are not favourably disposed to the impending fizzling of the College were behind the plot.

She said members of the College had since inception of the TUNEDIK showed good reception to the establishment of the University within the College and that the staff has no reason to fear or revolt since government have assured them that no job would be loss in the process of relocation of any of the institutions.

The fear, according to a reliable source, was occasioned by fear of job loss by many of the staff, especially the academic ones, who are not well equipped academically to take up a job at the new university.

The Vice-Chancellor of TUNEDIK, Prof Akin Ogunlade, who assumed office barely a couple of months ago, said the juj7u scare in Ikere have not created any fear into the minds of the management of the University, saying the relocation to the permanent site in Ikere was in consonance with the governor’s directive and the committee that was set up on the relocation.


Prof Oye Bandele , who is now the Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology in Ifaki Ekiti was the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University.

Ogunlade said he was not deterred by the antics of those he described as ‘mischief makers and misguided miscreants’, whom he alleged were bent on frustrating the efforts of the State government to effect the relocation.

He assured that the University Management is up to the task , even in the face of this raging controversy surrounding the acceptability of the University by Ikere people, who were said to be entertaining fear that losing the College population of over 20,000 and accept the University of just 500 capacity is suicidal.

The Vice Chancellor though said the management is not in a hurry to leave the temporary site in Ifaki Ekiti, since they were not under any pressure to do so, just as he allayed fear that the security of the students and staff may not be guaranteed at Ikere Ekiti.

"I want to tell you that Ikere people are ready to receive us and the College Community. But we are not unaware of the efforts of some people to deter us from coming and that was why they resorted to placing fake juju in the premises and the way leading to the College to create the impression that people did not want the University.