Professor Olatunde Oni has reacted to the news that he was shortlisted for appointment to fill the vacant post of Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state.
Prof Oni stated in a WhatsApp chat with insightonline.com that he had withdrawn from the race and could not have been shortlisted.
insightonline.com reports earlier four candidates were shortlisted following an interaction session the Governing Council overseeing the selection process held with the contestants Tuesday.
Among the candidates reported to have been shortlisted is Prof Oni, a former Director of ICT in the institution.
It was however added one of the contestants might have been replaced.
Now, Oni, of the Department of Pure and Applied Physics and who is currently abroad has revealed he had withdrawn from the race out of respect for another person’s candidature, Prof Olusegun Odunola.
According to him, he submitted his letter of withdrawal to the Registrar/Secretary to the Council prior the commencement of the exercise and so could not have been shortlisted.
“I acknowledge the letter of invitation for interaction, sequel to my application for the post of Vice-Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso. The date and venue of the interaction as contained in the said letter, dated May 24, 2024, is pleasing to me,” the letter read in part.
“While I thank you and appreciate all efforts expended on my selection as a candidate for the enviable post, I wish to state that out of respect I have for Prof. Olusegun Odunola, who is also an applicant, I do not feel comfortable contending with him..
“He is a person I believe has vision and mission that I could cede my interest for his. I therefore pray that you kindly permit this wish of mine, not to contend any longer at this instance.”
Therefore, he told ogbomosoinightonline.com, “I sent the letter to the Registrar prior the interaction. So I could not have been shortlisted as I ceded my interest to a respected candidate.”
