The last may not have been heard over the lingering leadership tusle in the University of Ilorin chapter of Alumni Association.
With a new leadership in place led by Professor AbdulRasaq Kilani, there seems to be no end to the leadership tussle as two factional leadership groups are presently laying claim to the University’s Alumni Association’s headship.
Blueprint gathered that one group, backed by the university authorities and other past alumni presidents, is headed by Professor Kilani Abdulrasheed Olusuyi, while a faction of the association led by Dr. Stephen Olawale Fashakin is also claiming leadership.
Irked by the development, the executive committee of the alumni association, headed by Professor Kilani, has asked the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to investigate the immediate past president of the association, Dr. Wale Fashakin, for alleged impersonation.
In a statement released Friday by the national publicity secretary of the association, Chief Olorunsuwa Elijah Ola, the group said that the action of the past president was capable of causing a breach of peace in the university.
The association, which said Fashakin had continued to impersonate the president of the association, Professor Kilani Abdulrasheed Olusuyi, at different fora, described the act as “shameful and unacceptable.”
“We strongly condemn this impersonation and alert all stakeholders and wish to bring to the awareness of the public Dr Fashakin’s nefarious and disgraceful acts and those of his cohorts, especially a recent visit to the Controller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nanna Nandap, and his recent purported inauguration of the Board of Trustees for the Association.
“We advise against dealing with him on behalf of the Unilorin Alumni Association.
“For the record, his tenure came to an abrupt end in 2021 through a resolution of Congress due to gross abuse of office, high-handedness, and betrayal of the association’s trust and constitution.
“In his stead, a Caretaker Committee was for three years in the saddle of the association’s activities till August 24, 2024, when an election was held to usher in a new set of executives. It should be noted that the election was held six months after his tenure, assuming he was not removed through a Congress resolution.”
However, in a reaction by Mr. Yomi Olumuyide, for the factional exco, and Dr. Segun Ipinniwa, for the factional chapter chairmen, the people said that the submission made by Professor Kilani “purportedly parading himself as the national president of the association is unguarded and misdirected.”
The people also said that it was Professor Kilani who is impersonating Dr. Stephen Olawale Fashakin.
“Dr. Stephen Olawale Fashakin and his executive committee team are yet the authentic apex body of the association as the purported congress held by the Kilani group at some time this year to appoint him, (Kilani), national president and some other faceless persons as executive committee was a mere kindergarten drama and a demonstration of crass ignorance of law as a case with Suit No: KWS/92/2021 involving the association is still pending before a competent court of law in Ilorin, whereby, the status quo ante bellum is still and or ought to be retained.”