Esa-Oke, the rural home of well-known late politician Chief Bola Oke in Osun, was the scene of numerous protests on Monday from irate young people in the town over the purported approval of a new state College of Technology satellite campus located a few kilometers outside of Esa-Oke.
Armed with signs that said things like, “We condemn the move of Prince Diran Odeyemi to relocate the school campus to another town,” and “We condemn in totality an approval of a new satellite campus of the state College of Technology, Esa-Oke at Ibokun,” they vowed to resist the move with everything they had.
In the meantime, the Oba-In-Council, Owa-Omiran Palace, Esa-Oke, claimed in a letter dated February 13 and addressed to the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke—a copy of which stated—that the institution’s chairman of the board is the root of the issue, claiming that his continued service as chairman poses a threat to the peace and continued coexistence of Esa-oke and Ibokun.
The community, through the letter signed by Owa Omiran of Esa-Oke Land, Apia Owaji II, and Oba Adeyemi A. Adediran, High Chief Olatunde Esan, Odogun of Esa-Oke, High Chief James Ajewole, Ogboni of Esa-Oke, Professor Abiodun Oni, Member, Esa-Oke Renewal Initiative, Rev. Fr. Michael Ige, CAN Chairman, Chief Imam Yinusa Bamgboye, Muslim Community, Mr. Akinwumi Onifade, Secretary, Council of Elders Esa-Oke
Youth Leader Esa-Oke Mr. Fakunle Oladapo promised to keep the institution in their town, and he copied the Secretary to the State Government Governor’s Office, Osogbo, Commissioner for Education Ministry.
The community, however, demanded the removal of Prince Diran Odeyemi and tasked the governor with making sure that the Esa-Oke Community was represented on the Governing Council. The letter emphasized that “this is essential to ensure that our interest is protected at all times. The problem we have is that there is no Esa-Oke indigene as a representative of the community on the Governing Council of the OSCOTECH. We expect your quick, positive action on this matter.”
The report of the establishment of a new satellite campus at Ibokun was refuted by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the State Governor’s spokesperson, in a statement. “I am instructed to certify to the good people of Esa Oke that Mr. Governor did not provide any such approval. The situation is still as it was.
Nonetheless, the governor urged Esa Oke’s youth and elders to uphold harmony and refrain from inciting violence.
