CSO Writes Buhari, Seeks Removal Of Prof. Okebukola

By Kunle Olasanmi

Abuja

A civil society organisation has called for the removal Professor Peter Okebukola as the Pro- Chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the National Open University, NOUN.

N a petition to President Mohammadu Buhari, the organisation, Youth Global Vision for Peace In Africa, accused Professor Okebukola of age falsification.

There were allegations that the professor presented three different dates of births to his primary employer, the University of Lagos.

The organisation in the petition dated November 26, 2020 and signed by Prince Olatunji, the National President, Comrade Abdulmajeed Saad, National Coordinator and Richard Okeita, National Secretary, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, ICPC, to Investigate the allegation.

The organisation said in the petition, ''We want to bring it to your notice that Professor Peter Okebukola, who serves as Pro Chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), is facing serious allegation of age falsification.

 as exposed by the investigative Online media house, Premium Times. The newspaper last year published a two-part story, with detailed documentary evidence showing how the professor presented three different dates of births to his primary employer, the University of Lagos, at various times. 

 

''To our surprise, Professor Okebukola did not come out to defend himself or take any action to redress (in case of perceived damage) for the widely circulated publication. This is despite the enormity of the allegations and in view of the important positions he has held and holding presently, including as the Pro Chancellor of NOUN. This, by all intent and purposes, is a subtle admission of guilt on the part of Prof. Okebukola. 

''You will agree with us, Your Excellency Sir, that an issue like this, which touch on our education, values and upbringing of the upcoming generation is too important to be swept under the carpet or be toyed with. Those who superintend our education systems should be persons with impeccable conduct and character, in order to supervise a system that equally uphold those values and impact them on the younger ones.''

The group called on the federal government to call for an investigation into this lingering scandal that is being covered up, in view of Professor Okebukola’s public standing and the Federal appointment he currently holds.